Arsenal can beat Chelsea –Wenger

Arsene Wenger insists his woeful record against Jose Mourinho will have no bearing on Arsenal’s top-of-the-table clash with Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

Wenger

Wenger has failed to win in 12 games against Mourinho across the Portuguese coach’s two spells at Stamford Bridge, drawing five and losing seven of their clashes.

But the Arsenal manager says the past shared between the two managers on the touchline in Sunday’s 4pm kick-off will be irrelevant as the Barclays Premier League’s top two sides face off.

Wenger and Mourinho rowed on the touchline in October’s 2-0 win for Chelsea in the reverse fixture

‘I think we have not always lost in 12 attempts. We have been close,’ Wenger said. ‘Having said that, the result on Sunday will just be down to the performance on the day. We are on a good run and we have an opportunity at home to beat them and we want to take it.

‘We have a good run of form and good belief and solidarity. We have passed many tests recently when we were questioned. We have another test on Sunday that we want to pass.

‘Chelsea’s strength is that it has been very efficient on counter attacks and set-pieces as well. We have to nullify its strengths.’

Asked about his frosty relationship with Mourinho, Wenger said: ‘I do not want to talk about that. What is interesting for people is when the game starts at 4pm we have a great game. It is not about the relationship between the managers.’