Arsenal take on Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final in Budapest on Saturday, with legendary ex-Gunners boss Arsene Wenger desperate to see his former side finally lift Europe's biggest prize
Arsene Wenger is hoping his former side can finally lift the Champions League
Arsene Wenger is hoping his former side can finally lift the Champions League(Image: Getty Images)
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Arsene Wenger believes Arsenal “deserve” to win the Champions League on Saturday and hopes to see his former club land the “missing” part of their glorious history.
Wenger, who spent 22 years at the helm in North London and is now FIFA’s head of global development, says he would love Mikel Arteta to bring the trophy back to the Emirates.
Arsenal reached the final in 2006 under Wenger but after being reduced to 10 men following the dismissal of Jens Lehmann, fell to defeat against Frank Rijkaard's Barcelona. Sol Campbell headed the Gunners in front in Paris, before an inspired Henrik Larsson cameo turned the tide for the Catalans, with Samuel Eto'o and Julian Beletti scoring late on.
Now the Frenchman knows that it won't be easy for Mikel Arteta's Premier League winners against Luis Enrique's holders.
“I want this trophy to go to the Emirates because it’s missing there," said Wenger, speaking to UEFA. "We touched it before — we were thirteen minutes away from winning it — so you want it to happen this time.
“I’ve always said that you work in a club to make sure it’s in a good position to continue to progress. Overall, I believe this is a stage where we can grab it.
“I still believe it’s fifty-fifty in the final, and if I had to bet, I would bet on Arsenal more than on Paris Saint-Germain.
“I feel the club deserves it, this season deserves it and the consistency of the team deserves it. When I arrived at Arsenal, the club had very little Champions League history.
“Then we had 20 consecutive years of qualification, and now the crown of that history would be to become champions.
“I think Arsenal have slowly built a history that now allows them to win it. I also feel the time has come for Arsenal to dominate the Premier League consistently.”
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