Odegaard draws on Vieira's message as Arsenal prepare for PSG Champions League final

Martin Odegaard has declared Arsenal will carry no fear into Saturday’s Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain, insisting the Gunners’ Premier League title triumph has given them the belief to beat Luis Enrique’s side and claim the European Cup.

The Arsenal captain revealed he received a personal video message from former club captain Patrick Vieira on the eve of the final — a gesture Odegaard described as deeply meaningful given Vieira’s status as one of the club’s greatest leaders.

“He is a proper club legend for everything he’s done,” Odegaard said. “To get a message from him is special. Now we have the chance to do something that they haven’t done as well. It’s something nice to play for. We can’t wait to play.”

Vieira’s Invincibles generation, widely regarded as the finest Arsenal side in the club’s history, never won the European Cup — a fact that lends extra weight to what this squad is attempting in Munich. Odegaard acknowledged that history directly, framing Saturday’s final as an opportunity to go where even Arsenal’s greatest players could not.

PSG enter the final as favourites after eliminating Inter Milan in last season’s showpiece, but Odegaard pushed back firmly on any suggestion Arsenal are simply making up the numbers. He pointed to winning the Premier League — which he called “probably the toughest league to win in the world” — as evidence of the squad’s quality and resilience.

“We know the quality we have in the team,” Odegaard said. “We know what we are and what we can do. Obviously, we’re playing a good team with a lot of qualities, but we have full belief in ourselves, what we can do, the football we can play and the results we can get.”

Odegaard was also keen to stress the collective nature of Arsenal’s season, touching on the squad’s togetherness and the contribution of Viktor Gyokeres, who faces uncertainty over whether he will start the final.

The Norwegian captain reflected warmly on the Premier League title celebration, describing it as a moment that will stay with the group permanently — and one he intends to use as fuel heading into the biggest game of the club’s recent history.

“It felt amazing to win the title,” he said. “All we have been through to get to that moment makes it feel so good. And to do it with this group is just unbelievable. It was such a beautiful day and it is going to be there forever for all of us. The mood and vibes going into this game is great — we are ready to go again.”