Arteta adamant English title can inspire Arsenal to Champions League glory

Mikel Arteta is "fully convinced" Arsenal can be crowned champions of Europe for the first time this weekend after ending their 22-year wait for a Premier League title.

The Gunners face reigning European kings Paris Saint-Germain in Saturday's Champions League final in Budapest after wrapping up their first Premier League title since 2004.

A star-studded Paris Saint-Germain, who thrashed Inter Milan 5-0 in last season's final, are widely regarded as favourites to lift the European Cup once again.

But Arsenal manager Arteta believes the confidence gained by winning the Premier League will inspire the Gunners to upset the odds.

"You could sense the energy, you can sense the positivity and the confidence in the players and everybody around the club," he said.

"We have an amazing opportunity to write new history in our football club, and we are convinced that we're going to do it.

"We will fly to Budapest on Thursday fully convinced that in a few days' time we can be champions of Europe."

The 44-year-old Spaniard was speaking at the League Managers Association's annual awards dinner in central London on Tuesday, where he was named Premier League manager of the year.

"First of all, thank you so much for giving me this award," said former Everton and Arsenal midfielder Arteta. "It's an immense honour. You're related to some of the great managers and all the colleagues that are in this room.

"It's been a fascinating journey for a few years. We've been knocking on the door, we've been trying, we fell short a few times, and to actually win it made it so special."

Arteta thanked several people upon receiving the award, including Everton boss David Moyes for introducing him to English football when he signed him in 2005.

He also praised his "instrumental" coaching team, saying: "They've been an inspiration, they've been extremely supportive with me. They made me enjoy this profession in a way that probably I could not imagine."

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has accused Roy Keane of lying about his successful bid to break the Premier League record for most assists in a single season.

Fernandes reached a record 21 assists for United in the top-flight this term when he laid on a goal for Patrick Dorgu in Sunday's 3-0 win at Brighton.

The 31-year-old equalled the previous record, shared by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne, a week earlier during United's 3-2 victory over Nottingham Forest.

But former United midfielder Keane has been unimpressed by Fernandes' pursuit of the landmark.

The outspoken Keane said Fernandes had put individual glory over the team's interests, describing him as being at the centre of a "circus act".

Speaking on The Overlap podcast, Keane said: "After the (Forest) game he got interviewed and he said, the captain of Manchester United said: 'A few times, I probably should have shot but I made them passes.'

"Wow. How can your mindset of a footballer be going into a match to be about an individual record? He won't be winning trophies, not with that mindset of the team."

However, the former United captain appeared to mistake Fernandes' comments because the Portugal star actually said: "There were probably moments today when I should have passed instead of shot.

"I'm very happy for the assist, but more than that, I'm happy for the win and to finish the season on a high."

Asked on Monday about Keane's blast, Fernandes slammed the Old Trafford legend.

"Like I've always said, I don't mind criticism," Fernandes told The Diary of a CEO podcast. "What I don't like is when people lie about things and (in) this case that you said about Roy Keane basically what he said is a lie.

"Either he saw some other interview or he can't say that I said one thing that I've just not said and luckily for me everything is on record.

"I accept that he might like me as a player or not, like me as a person or not. But what I don't like is that he puts words in my mouth that have not been said."

Fernandes' superb form this season helped United finish third in the top-flight and earned him the Football Writers Association and Premier League Player of the season awards.

But he was so unhappy with Keane's criticism that he contacted former United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to ask for the Irishman's phone number so the pair could address the issue.

"Obviously I think I've always showed a lot of respect for Roy Keane and for everything he's done for the club and for everything he's always said," Fernandes said.

"What I don't like is that people make their own words on what I say and it's not true."