UEFA Champions League final: Bukayo Saka vows ‘something special’ will happen to Arsenal in Paris Saint-Germain clash - ‘Weight off our shoulders’

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There is a buzz around Budapest. Arsenal, fresh from overcoming Manchester City in a tense Premier League title race, now have the defending European champions Paris Saint-Germain in their sights.

Premier League title has ‘taken weight off our shoulders’ ahead of UCL final - Saka

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The media were allowed to watch the confidence running through the veins of Mikel Arteta's players at the Puskas Arena on the eve of their first UEFA Champions League final in 20 years.

From the initial team bonding exercises in the centre circle to the usual snappy rondos, through laser-sharp shooting drills to an autograph signing session for children patiently waiting pitchside, there is a strict efficiency to the way Arsenal are going about their business in the pearl of the Danube.

For Bukayo Saka, a player who has returned to form at the perfect time, adding the greatest European club honour to his first Premier League winners' medal would once have been beyond his wildest dreams, but now could be just 90 minutes from becoming a reality.

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During the three successive near-misses in lifting a domestic title for the first time since 2004, Arsenal's nerve was questioned. Six years without a trophy, there were those who suggested this was Arteta's final shot to prove he was the man capable of taking The Gunners to the next level.

Saka, who is the sole survivor of Arteta's very first game as Arsenal manager against Bournemouth in 2019, believes the sense of euphoria that has traversed the streets of Islington these past 10 days or so has transmitted itself to the players.

"I always believed," the England international told TNT Sports in an exclusive interview. "I think it has taken maybe a bit of weight off our shoulders because it's not like we're coming into this without having won anything.

"We've been chasing for years to win a major trophy, and we've done that now. So it's amazing because it gives the boys the confidence we have in this group now, the energy, the spirit.

"Going out there tomorrow, you're going to probably see a confident Arsenal team with even more passion to go and do something special.

"It's been a while since the club's been in the Champions League final, and we know how long it's been since we won the Premier League. So everyone's on a high and everyone wants us to take it even higher tomorrow."

Saka credits his faith for helping him retain a relaxed persona during the toughest periods of his career, when injuries and disappointments both for club and country have threatened to derail his progress.

Following a draw at home to Southampton in 2020, a result which left Arsenal languishing in 15th place in the Premier League, Saka took to social media to post: "You deserve more, Arsenal fans."

He reminded his followers of that low point in his career when his team-mates finally delivered those supporters a 14th league title - and the 24-year-old feels the stars could be aligning for Arsenal in their quest to be crowned champions of Europe.

"I believe tomorrow night something special is going to happen again," Saka added, visualising precisely where he would be holding aloft the trophy on Saturday evening. "I'm calm, I'm confident, and I'm looking forward to it.

"These games are the ones that I enjoy the most, the ones with the highest stakes and you just know you're going to get the ball, especially in the Champions League, you're going to get the ball, more one-v-ones. You're going to get chances."

Arteta: We're not looking for recognition

Arteta hasn't come this far only to fall short at the final hurdle. Defeat against Paris Saint-Germain at the semi-final stage last season still lingers in the back of his mind, especially when Inter Milan then couldn't hold a candle to their opponents in the Munich showpiece.

Luis Enrique has vowed that his side are even better now than they were 12 months ago, highlighting the defensive improvement that has come from a settled back four that is expertly marshalled by experienced Brazilian defender Marquinhos.

Arteta envisioning ‘lifting that trophy’ in Budapest for ‘our people’

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Arteta knows that it will be fine margins that determine whether his players can avenge the 3-1 aggregate loss from their previous meeting, but the Spaniard was in no mood to accept that reaching the final already counts for something.

"We're not looking for recognition," Arteta told TNT Sports. "I think when you work so hard at the end of the day, ultimately, at this club, it's about winning major trophies, and we have achieved a big one.

"We have earned the right to be in this position, to win a position tomorrow, to win the second one. That's it.

"We've got one done, and the journey that the team and the club has been [on] in the competition showed that we can compete with anybody. We are here because we fully deserve to be in this final, and tomorrow we have to earn it and win it.

Making history is best motivation for PSG - Enrique

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"This is the biggest stage of club football. It doesn't get any better than that. So you're going to face the best players, the best managers, the best clubs.

"I know Luis [Enrique] for a long time, while he's done a PhD, he's remarkable, he's admirable, and tomorrow we're going to be the opposition. We hope that we're going to beat them."

Odegaard: Rice the driving force within our team

Arteta will have a clear picture of his 11 starters taking to the field come 8pm UK time on Saturday evening, but that won't mean he will sleep peacefully, nor will those who have waited throughout their career for this moment.

Martin Odegaard was effectively deemed surplus to requirements by Real Madrid as the Spanish giants built the foundations of their period of European dominance around a midfield of Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and Casemiro.

But the Norwegian is now at the peak of his powers, aged 27, at a time when Madrid have ended a season trophyless for only the fifth time this century.

Odegaard gives verdict on Arsenal players most likely to win Ballon d’Or

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It remains to be seen if Odegaard is handed a starting berth, or whether Arteta will opt for Eberechi Eze as his No. 10 from the off, but the club captain is ready to play his part in bringing more joyous scenes to the club's loyal fanbase.

"We know that they've been through a lot, and it's not been easy," Odegaard told TNT Sports. "When I first came here, we were in a totally different position. To see the fans happy means the world to me.

"I think when you have these types of experiences together as a group and as a team, it just makes you even stronger together, and you get even more belief and even more energy.

"When you then reach a final, you take a lot of positives. When you get the taste of trophies, you want to do it again. It would be a perfect day."

Declan Rice was seen at the end of the 2-1 defeat at Manchester City which handed Pep Guardiola's side the initiative in the title race back in April, mouthing to Odegaard that the race was "not done".

'Special' Ballon d'Or contender Rice getting 'better and better'

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Rice's arrival for a club-record fee of £105 million has been the catalyst to Arsenal's success, and for some he ought to have been recognised for his contribution as the stand-out individual in the Premier League this season, but Bruno Fernandes was named Player of the Season for his excellent campaign with Manchester United.

Odegaard believes Rice is in contention for the Ballon d'Or award - which will be announced in London on October 26 - and says it would more than make up for missing out on the domestic gong.

"For sure, I think he'd be happier with that," added Odegaard. "Obviously, he's had a great season, and he's been massive for us, and since he came in here the first day, he's been absolutely amazing.

"I feel like he's just getting better and better. He's such a driving force within the team, and it's great to play with him. It's great to have him on the team. I'm sure he's going to win a lot of nice trophies in the future.

"But I think we have a lot of players who've been brilliant. It's important to say that this is a team performance, so I don't want to put out any names. But obviously, we all know the quality in our team and some of them had some great seasons. I think a few of them should be on that list to have a chance to win it, so let's see."

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