Mourinho and Wenger: War of Words Sets The Scene For Capital Clash.

A sponsored article ahead of tomorrow.

Even before the 2015-16 English Premier League season proper had kicked off, it all appeared to be kicking off between the managers of two of the world’s most high profile football clubs, Chelsea and Arsenal.

The bitter feud between Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho stretches back some time, and the failure of the pair to shake hands at the end of the FA Community Shield fixture in August highlighted that the bitterness was nowhere near subsiding. It is against this backdrop that the two prepare to do battle again and you can be at the heart of the action with Ticketbis.

Mourinho had Wenger in his sights almost from the first moment that he entered the English Premier League as “the special one” in 2004. Manchester United and Arsenal had dominated the league for a number of years and Chelsea, backed by billionaire owner Roman Abramovich, were on the rise and about to muscle in on the action. Usurping their London neighbours would just be the first part of a long-term plan to make the Blues a force in European football.

Wenger has often been at the receiving end of barbed comments from Mourinho. Never more so than when the Frenchman questioned the defensive tactics Mourinho used to close down matches and ensure a win. The Portuguese responded with acerbic wit.

“Wenger has a real problem with us. I think he is what you call in England a voyeur…There are some guys who, when they are at home, have a big telescope to see what happens in other families. Wenger must be one of them – it is a sickness. He speaks, speaks, speaks about Chelsea.”

The Arsenal manager has never allowed all the words to flow one way, though.

“He’s out of order, disconnected with reality and disrespectful. When you give success to stupid people, it makes them more stupid sometimes – not more intelligent.”

He’s a specialist in failure.

Perhaps one of the most explosive press conferences involving Jose Mourinho occurred in towards the end of the 2013-14 season. In an interview with the Daily Mail, the Chelsea man took another sideswipe at Wenger when he claimed that Arsenal would have no excuses if they fail to win the Premier League because their manager had been building his side for eight years.

Wenger responded by offering the theory that his rival was scared to admit that Chelsea were genuine title contenders because “he has a fear of failure.”

The blue touch paper had truly been lit and the fireworks could be seen lighting up Stamford Bridge:

“I’m not used to failing. But the reality is he’s a specialist because, eight years without a piece of silverware, that’s failure. If I did that in Chelsea I’d leave and not come back to London. I don’t fear anything in football.”

And so it continues to this day. Except this time, the clubs appear to be closer than ever. Arsenal’s trophy drought finally ended just a few months after Mourinho’s comments as they carried the FA Cup back to the Emirates Stadium – a feat that they repeated in 2015.

Mourinho, meanwhile, continued his impressive run of “second-season” success stories as the Blues lifted the Premier League title in 2015 – the second season of his second term as manager at the club.

This year, so far, has been a little different for Chelsea, though. They have suffered a stuttering start to the defence of their title this season, while also courting controversy in the shape fallout from Mourinho’s angry touchline tirade at club Doctor, Eva Carneiro. All does not seem to be running as smoothly as usual.

It took Arsene Wenger 14 attempts to finally beat his opposite number at Chelsea. Although it came in what is, essentially, a pre-season friendly – the victory will still have been sweet. It certainly sets the scene nicely for when two meet again. Tomorrow………

Good luck to England who kick the Rugby World Cup off tonight…..

Wath is away for the day and I’m on holiday so apologies to anyone stuck in moderation….

155 thoughts on “Mourinho and Wenger: War of Words Sets The Scene For Capital Clash.

  1. Goonster says:

    Spectacular post rico….enjoyed reading it matter of fact I read it twice. Can’t see us getting a result at the bridge. No chance. Morning all.

  2. Simon Ngulube says:

    Good morning Rico, Scot, Wath and all…

    Hopefully we will bounce back and win it tomorrow…..I wouldn’t like Mou as Arsenal Manager thou…

  3. scottfromoz says:

    Simon, I’d hate it if Joe Say was our manager.
    Though, judging the comments of recent times, most Gooners seemingly want someone who can be pragmatic and tactical, and who puts winning above all else.
    Does this not describe Joe Say??
    Everyone condemning Wenger points out his weaknesses, yet claim to hate Joe Say, the man who is the anti Arsene.
    This would suggest Joe Say is exactly what plenty of people want at Arsenal.
    Yes or no???

  4. Wavy says:

    I’ve just read it! Rivalry? What rivalry? That would suggest emotional involvement! Wenger is a cold fish whilst the vertically challenged one is a specialist in pessimism and destruction, a football terrorist?
    We had a reasonable series of results against the chavs whilst the pompous Pygmy was playing away! Now the miserable little git is ahead 2-1 in terms of results 2-2 would be a fairer reflection on balance. Will it come tomorrow? I really hope so. Having got the completely wrong team selection and result on Wednesday let us all hope that Wenger the pragmatic gets it right at lunch time tomorrow. It is high time the power of London should shift from west to North! The time is right, the time is now.
    Please Arsene don’t screw it up against the chavs it would be so bad at every level. 1-2 to the Arsenal!

  5. Wavy says:

    Sorry, is it 4-1 to the chavs? I’ve forgotten! So can’t be 2-2 can it? But we must close the gap, it’s not natural!

  6. arsenal11730 says:

    My heart tells me 1-3 to Gooners. Head says 2-1 Chavs. Whom do I go with, I have been let down so many times and suffered heartache with this club over the last 38 years. Will go for the heart….
    Every time feel AW has turned the corner, the squad and his poor tactical decisions take us 2 steps back.
    My patience is thin with both AW and players, they show complacency too often and that stinks of unprofessionalism. Next 8 weeks put up or shut up.
    Come on You Reds.
    Cheers

  7. Micko says:

    Own up, who gave Wath the day off ?

    Seem to remember Arsene taking the day off against Chelsea last year, must be catching.

  8. Micko says:

    No-one biting tonite.

    That’s 8 in a row for England at Twickenham, job done.

    Pride of London at stake tomorrow , don’t let let down lads !

    Nite Gooners.

  9. allezkev says:

    Morning Everyone…

    Morning Wath…

    Scott… too hard?
    Wash your mouth out with 4X…

    I’m going for a draw today.
    Of course I’d love the win, but I’d not want to risk losing by being too offensive, so let’s hope a Coquelin type mentality dominates the teams thinking today…
    What we have, we hold…

    Off to my sons soon, to cuddle my grandaughter and watch the game.
    Lata All…

    And Mick…

  10. tsgh says:

    Wath, I have re-read the post for the umpteenth time,; absolutely spectacular…

    Now now… who is behind the conspiracy of appointing Mike Spuds deans?

    Arsenal have failed to score in the last four matches against Chelsea where Mike Dean has been referee.

    I have an hour or so to decent whether whether to take my neighbours offer, to sit in the home side of the chavs and get my head kicked in for celebrating an Ozil plus OG12 goal or stay at home…

    Morning all btw…

  11. Goonster says:

    Can’t believe am up early for this. Keep telling myself I have arsenal apathy yet still get up to watch them. God help me. Oh well come on you gunners.

  12. HunGooner says:

    Hitting Koscielny twice in the face and yellow that is a red so that cheat should not have even been on the pitch….

  13. Gunnerdna says:

    We need a MF like Gabriel. Costa all up in the dude back crying about he stamped on. Referees in the PL a big joke. Joke league which is slowing dying by these fake referees.

  14. HunGooner says:

    He lost it that is a fact and been naive there…but as he got a yellow for the first bit Costa should have been off there…plush you don’t know what kind of Portuguese abuse went on from Costa there..

  15. Wavy says:

    Where’s the technology. Instant replay, no arguments!
    When will the f…ing FA do something to prevent this kind of injustice?

  16. potter says:

    Poor defending caused by a lack of height. Gdna :- he’s right he wound him up and got him off . Should not have been there to do it , but that’s another story.

  17. Goonster says:

    So sad. We come up short everytime. Same soft under belly. It’s quite frustrating to see Pardew best maureen yet arsene can’t. Set piece had been our bane since the invincibles yet nothing was done to rectify it. Same goal west ham scored against us at the emirates we concede again today. Zonal marking my ass.

  18. potter says:

    Yes Costa was cheating but he had already got away with a yellow so the incident was over , Gabriel then reacted as Costa wanted.

  19. Nashua Gunner says:

    Pottter. You’re right, he should, Gabriel, known better. Coasta, a scumbag and a cheat, does best what his manager, who also a scumbag and a loud mouth, told him what he want him to do.

  20. Goonster says:

    Scotty oz what performance??? I only remember a brief spell where we looked good and that was it. Performance you say???

  21. Gunnerdna says:

    If Arsenal bought Sissoko in the last TW window, Arsenal would win the PL and I’m not even mentioning a striker. 1 more athlete in MF and this garbage league is wrapped up. This team is closer to the title than it looks on paper.

  22. HunGooner says:

    I wonder if the FA should take action against Costa as if I get it right he wasn’t at all booked for the foul on Kos… I think the game plan was working fine up till that point..so can criticise the performance at all!

  23. Nashua Gunner says:

    Street smart when dealing with Costa. He provoke situations just to get you on a yellow card. He bait Kos to react to but he didn’t go his way as was expected and Gabriel falls for it.

  24. Goonster says:

    I still maintain that wenger ll make messi and ronaldo look pants. He’s a good father figure for players but a manager?? No chance.

  25. Joaquim Moreira says:

    Today was Hazard goal?
    yes, we have many own goals but different criteria.
    Gabriel and Costa speaks the same language. He is also a very impulsive player.
    Gabriel and Cazorla sent off. 16 players (?) for next game.
    Out from the CL, out from the League today and maybe next Wednesday out from the League Cup.

  26. Malaga gooner says:

    No 1 on the pitch to pull gabriel to 1 side and have a word.
    No leaders in the team
    Wenger put this team together
    The buck stops with him

  27. Goonster says:

    Am sorry Nash but I ll rather have a Gabriel on the pitch than a soft wuss. Yes he fell for it but it’s nice to have a nutter too sometimes. The result only papered the cracks in maureen’s team. At this rate he won’t make the top 4.

  28. Goonster says:

    MG that’s where I thought the players got it all wrong but for Gabriel standing up to that chavs cnut heck yes I totally support him.

  29. Gunnerdna says:

    Arsenal played well, no complain. We lost and it’s upsetting but I’m tired of seeing Arsenal bullied by some dude with ugly face, faking funk. Love Gabriel to death, we need a midfielder like him. It’s so bad to see a player do what Costa did to win a game, it’s in line with match fixing.

  30. ScottfromOz says:

    Stan, what performance?
    10 players most of the game and then 9 and you ask that?
    Enough said mate.
    Your hatred for Wenger is killing your lack of reason and logic.
    Plenty will say we shouldn’t need to blame the officials but after that I say you are bloody kidding!!!!’
    Stand up for the club instead of taking every chance to have a dig at them.

  31. Goonster says:

    Scott we had no penetration we barely made Ivanobitch sweat, no shot on target. Misplaced passes. I knew people were going to throw that in our faces about being a man down. Yeah right like we were killing it before Gabriel got sent off. We ve lost 2 games in 6 scored 3 goals and you want me to shake wenger’s hand and congratulate him?? Are you serious? ??

  32. Goonster says:

    Two players scott two players in the past window and we ll be level with shitty at the top but noooo le scrooge harps on about cohesion. How’s that working out for ya?? Even if we buy Sammer gattuso pirlo ronaldo and zizou we ll still come up short. He’s a fraud a liar and an incompetent tosser the sooner you realize it the better.

  33. Gunnerdna says:

    Goon, I think the game was even leading up to Costa moment. We already know the season was over the monent the “no one was there to strengthen the team” line came sideways out AW mouth. He said support and shut up, so we rock with him. ?

  34. Goonster says:

    I don’t want to get into an argument with any gooner here. He’s dividing our fan base. WOBS vs AKBS which other top club out there have such division amongst their ranks. He needs to go. He’s bleeding the club. Fans pay so much yet watch conference level footie. A garry monk ll get this team smashing the league and he’s still a rookie. Get in carlito and watch this same arsenal team.

  35. Goonster says:

    We only know how to play one way. Pass pass pass. No plan be yet we have 200 million burning a hole in the bank. I don’t fucking get it. How can a man weave some much lies and deceit. He has too much power. Way too much.

  36. Gunnerdna says:

    Arsenal fans need to lower their expectations, the team can’t function properly to make it a complete unit, because of players limitations. SC covering FC limitations on the ball, Ramsey playing right win to cover MO & SC defensive limitations, Ramsey playing right wing because he is not disciplined enough to play beside FC. Ox is looses the ball too much in dangerous areas, so Ramsey got to play right wing. TW & OG is another case. Lol. There just too much ish going on, it’s like cooking without the right ingredients, It’s hilarious.?

  37. Goonster says:

    Dna thats bullshit. Lower their expectations?? Are you kidding me? These guys pay the highest ticket in europe. Not even Madrid or barfa fans pay that much to see their team. They pay top dollar for to see their team and heck they deserve to be entertained. I don’t expect to win the league annually but for fuck sake don’t be out of the running by December! !!

  38. scottfromoz says:

    Why can’t some people get past their hate for Wenger when discussing a single performance?
    Sorry Stan, but you are deadset looking silly here.
    You’re blaming Wenger and his lack of spending for us losing today??
    Give it up mate.
    We could have had Ronaldo and Messi out there, but there’s an old saying……a good scorer will beat a good player and a good referee will beat them all.
    Be bloody fair
    It doesn’t matter who managed or how much we spent in the summer…..we don’t win under Mike Dean and the pricks at the FA should be asked why a referee who celebrated a goal against us should ever referee again, let alone in a match were involved in.
    You say those scuppering Wenger are delusional?
    Shit, those who criticise relentlessly, especially on days like today, are as blind as bats.

  39. Goonster says:

    What happened after newscastle went one man down against us. They shut up shop. Made it tighter than an oyster’s butt. We couldn’t play through them. They had 2 banks of four and a line striker who played like a midfielder. It took an own goal for us to beat them. If the lads had down just that and we still lose I ll applaud them instead the wimpy old wuss let the team fall apart like all his previous teams post the invincibles Era does. Wenger out.

  40. Gunnerdna says:

    Goon, lol. Bro u ma homie don’t be mad at me. Lol. It’s nice outside man, go enjoy America. If I didn’t have ish to do, I would pass through NC and hit u up. Arsenal level under AW is what if, but, maybe, if ………the list goes on, so it’s best to just wait out his stay. Lol

  41. Gunnerdna says:

    MG, AW have too many flaws to be successful in this era without spending. Sticking with shit players is one of his biggest weakness. Project youth & British core was terms used not to spend the club money. If it wasn’t for the home grown rule, 80 percent of his British core would be in the lower league. There is just too much pointless ish to discuss about AW, it’s best to just avoid his name. He establish his own excuses & lies and fans fall for them. It’s best to just ignore ish he does.

  42. Goonster says:

    The payers we have are not as bad as le fraud makes then to look. Those guys are internationals for crying out loud but look amatuerish with wengker at the helms. A better coach ll get the best out of ozil. A better coach ll set up his teams to play in a way that ll frustrate the opposition but not wenger. He’s so predictable you can tell when he’s about to fart! What a tool.

  43. Joaquim Moreira says:

    is there any chance of Arsenal refuse to be arbitrated by Dein?
    jonathan Calleri (Boca Juniors) in our radar?

  44. Adam says:

    It is what it is Stan. It really hurts but Arsene cannot and more importantly, will not, make the changes that would put us where we belong so we carry on regardless lurching from one crisis to another. At least the new manager will have a lot of money to spend unless Kroenke takes it all out and there are quite a few players that will be gone at that time too. Onwards and ….oh fuck it.
    Hi gdna.

  45. Bradster says:

    Hey all,

    totally agree to where were the senior player or captain cooling him down. Surely they knew it was getting too hot.
    even after the sending off, why is it the youngest player in the team calming him down and saying he needs to go off?

    how did Italy get it right investigating their corrupt refs?

  46. allezkev says:

    The deciding factor today wax the key decisions made by Dean…

    Arsenal looked capable of a draw and maybe more while it was 11 vs 11…

    Even when we were losing 1-0 and down to 10 men Alexis blew a great chance to equalise…

    He is our stand out player so you cannot criticise Wenger for that…

  47. Gdna says:

    Everybody wants to be the center of attention, the face of the EPL. For a referee that is so experience like Mike Dean, what was his motives today trying to be the center of attention in a London derby. I honest thought there was only one Donald Trump but it seems like they are everywhere.

  48. arsenal11730 says:

    Same old crap different day. Mentally weak against the TOP Teams. We always lose but find different ways to. The Whole Club needs a shakeup from manager to squad to board of directors. We are weak, complacent and unprofessional.

  49. scottfromoz says:

    Same old, same old.
    Stan,
    I’ll blame Wenger when warranted, but what I won’t do is blame him for the sake of it and that’s where we are different.
    Watch the game.
    How you could blame anyone but Dean after that is beyond comprehension.
    Of course, we shouldn’t need to blame the officials, right?

  50. allezkev says:

    If we lose Coquelin for a period of time, then AW can be criticised for not signing any back up for Coq…

    But I thought we played well today despite being stitched up….

  51. potter says:

    First reaction is to feel cheated. Then once you sit back and try to think it all becomes a lot clearer. Skill wise there is nothing between the teams, when it was 11 each the game was open and actually entertaining. Tactically however they are streets ahead.They knew how to play us.Costa and Gabriel had previous and the Spanish Brazil liana knew which buttons to press. HAD Kos gone down and rolled around chances are Costa would have got a red .However we are too nice Gabriel got involved and Costa took his chance. From a footballing position I learned nothing I didn’t know. We are shot shy have little penetration and without Le Coq are pretty toothless in the middle. We will beat a lot of teams but when we hit organisation we are lost.

  52. scottfromoz says:

    Kev, thank goodness someone can say it how it is.
    So many won’t.
    Too busy backing their own opinion, even if it means ignoring the facts.
    We can not win the league this season and it’s because Wenger didn’t strengthen, but today’s result had nothing to do with that.

  53. arsenal11730 says:

    Scott I respect your diehard views but please remember Arsenal is not AW it will prosper long after he departs. As the dictator of this club with nobody questioning him like Dein previous, he is fully responsible for this charade. Too often we fail against Top 4 and players do not believe they can win.

  54. scottfromoz says:

    Potter, what buttons did Costa push?
    He committed three bootable offences in two minutes and copped one yellow??
    Gabriel commits two questionable offences and is sent off??
    Ok then.

  55. Gdna says:

    The team played well, Costa behavior was a disgrace, the FA needs to have a word with him it looks silly. His manager coming out saying he was the man of the match even makes it worst. Look at the pictures of Gabriel and Kos neck, i hate bullies, its probably a good reason i live overseas because i probably would have lost it. At the moment the EPL is struggling because the head of the stream is corrupt.

  56. scottfromoz says:

    DNA, I never thought I’d say this, but well said.
    On that note, good night guys.
    A disappointing result, but I can not fault the effort or performance, given the circumstances.
    If anyone can explain wephu we get Dean app certain teams, I’d love to hear it 🙂
    Night all.

  57. allezkev says:

    Scott, I am a big concerned about how we’ll cope if Coq is out…

    Up front it just ain’t happening, I don’t know why because even Alexis can’t score, and you can hardly call him shit…

    Wenger isn’t above criticism and I’ll criticise him if I think it’s warranted.

    But we certainly haven’t had any luck this season, that’s a certainty…

    Costa gets a red at 0-0 and Arsenal win, to me that’s obvious…

    What I think is certain, is that as a club, Arsenal should kick up a stink about Dean and ensure that we don’t get that Scouse Cnut again this season.

    But they won’t will they, and that weak attitude will see us shit in again this season…

  58. Gdna says:

    Potter, i understand what you are saying, but why Costa was so close to Gabriel in the first place. The game was not in progress and look how close he was to Gab. Its just a cheap shot bro, he is a fake gangster. If Arsenal was winning 6-0, with Mike Dean in charge the possibilities still exist that AFC could still loose 6-7. Most referees in the PL are fans of teams just like me and you and its well documented Mike Dean hates Arsenal.

  59. Bob John says:

    I am on holiday and didn’t see the game but to me it was obvious what would happen today. We would never be allowed to win. the Theatre of Pus 2004 springs to mind with Old Mother Riley, the Mike Dean of his day reffing. The same man who appointed Dean for this match! Chavs were sailing too close to the basement so Romans cheque Book has opened. Game is fecking bent end of!

  60. arsenal11730 says:

    Scott I recognise Dein brought Stan to the Club but was looking for an ally as he knew a Coup de etat was on the cards. Dein Must get credit for Invincibles also. AW is done as he cannot adjust to the Arab and Chav money. Financial Fair Play has failed and that failure is the final nail in AW. As a 38 year Gooner I also bleed for this club but AKBS must recognise it’s time for a change. Scousers did it with Shankly and Paisley we can also transition on. I fully appreciate what greatness AW has done for us but would rather him leave on his own terms rather than be forced out and diminish his Legacy. We need a new era manager Klopp, Pep, Tuchel etc or if we want old school Ancelloti. Cheers

  61. arsenal11730 says:

    I have heard this from other long term Gooners in the last couple seasons and I cannot believe I’m starting to feel similarly. After supporting Arsenal and being a Gooner for 38 years, im beginning to lose some interest because I already know what the result will be against Top4. Sad but true.

  62. Kel says:

    a117 I get that m8 I’ve felt like that for yrs now imo it’s the repetitive way that Arsenals failings and defeats play out, the frustrations of the transfer windows particularly this summer which was disgraceful, it’s just the same old same old although today we really did get cheated by that corrupt fuck mike dean and not for the first time.

    But imo I would like to see a new manager next season we ain’t winning a PL or CL under wenger we all know this, I would like us to try a new approach.

  63. Simon Ngulube says:

    The team was good,for the first time I saw Arsenal winning the game…then came the madness of Mike Dean….I wonder why old people are still involved in refereeing? Dean always messes us up.

    We need more of Gabriel type of attitude…our team is full of sissies….we need that attitude to win games…I will support such behaviour all the time. Yes it did cost us but the game was bought so we can’t win against outside forces…

    I don’t like Wenger at all but I can’t blame him on this one. I think he prepared the team well and they were defending well untill Dean’s madness.

    I just wonder if referee’s ever get punished…because Dean always makes huge mistakes and is always given games to officiate…..it sucks

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