Arteta vows Arsenal will be champions of Europe ahead of PSG Champions League final

Mikel Arteta declared Arsenal will become champions of Europe at a late-night celebration dinner in London’s Mayfair following the club’s first Premier League title since 2004, with the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest now just days away.

Footage captured at the Bacchanalia Mediterranean restaurant in Central London shows Arteta, microphone in hand, telling the assembled players and supporters: “On Saturday, we’re going to be champions of Europe.” The speech came shortly after captain Martin Odegaard lifted the Premier League trophy at Selhurst Park following Arsenal’s 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace.

The gathering at the upscale Mayfair venue was an opulent affair, with drinks reportedly starting at £100 and certain bottles of wine priced as high as £56,000, though it is unclear whether Arteta’s squad indulged in the more extravagant options. Declan Rice was among those seen celebrating, and the England midfielder was quick to stress that the party has a firm endpoint.

“I think that’s the message from the manager already,” Rice said after the celebrations. “We just need to enjoy today, but tomorrow it’s full focus on PSG. We’ve got a massive opportunity there. We want that — we want the double, we want to push for that.”

Odegaard echoed the sentiment, acknowledging the scale of what lies ahead while insisting the squad will not let the title euphoria blunt their preparation. “We had a great celebration on Tuesday, the vibes are unreal, everyone is so happy,” the Norwegian said. “But we have another big final in just a week. So we’ll wait to party after that. We’ve got to enjoy it and make sure we’re ready and go for it, and hopefully we can do it.”

A win over PSG in Budapest would deliver Arsenal an unprecedented domestic and European double, completing one of the most significant seasons in the club’s history.