Arsene Wenger has offered his blessing to Mikel Arteta as Arsenal prepare to face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final in Budapest this weekend, urging the Gunners boss to trust the process that has carried the club this far as reported by Evening Standard on Thursday May 28, 2026.
The clash marks only Arsenal’s second appearance in European football’s grandest occasion. The first came two decades ago under Wenger himself, when Barcelona ended the north London side’s dreams in Paris. This time, the legendary Frenchman believes the moment belongs to his former club.
Wenger, who signed Arteta as a player in 2011, spoke warmly about his successor’s qualities as both a leader and tactician. The Spaniard made over 150 appearances for Arsenal before transitioning into management, and Wenger credits those years as foundational to the coach Arteta has become.
In a message directed at the current Arsenal manager, Wenger urged him to “keep the togetherness the team has shown all season,” adding that maintaining collective belief would be enough to get the job done.
Beyond the tactical, Wenger spoke about what this victory would mean for the club’s broader identity.
He reflected on Arsenal’s modest European history before his arrival and the 20 consecutive years of Champions League qualification that followed, describing a potential triumph on Saturday as the natural crowning of that legacy.
Wenger also expressed belief that winning the title could mark the beginning of a new era of sustained domestic dominance, suggesting the time has arrived for Arsenal to challenge consistently at the top of the Premier League.