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Arsène Wenger has claimed that he would be willing one day to make “peace” with arch-enemy Jose Mourinho but has dismissed the Manchester United manager’s complaints about their current fixture demands.
Mourinho has repeatedly referenced his club’s schedule following nine matches in April and potentially another seven in May but Wenger says that top teams should want additional games at this stage of the season. He is also not accepting Mourinho’s suggestion that United could be weakened against Arsenal on Sunday by prioritising their Europa League semi-final with Celta Vigo.
“We know that they have a massive squad with quality players,” said Wenger. “Normally a hectic schedule is what you want. That shows you are in the competitions. If you have no big injuries we are all equipped now in the Premier League to deal with that.
“If you look at the benches of the teams that are between 10th and 20th, there are still top players on the bench at every single club. No matter who plays, they will have a strong team out.”
Wenger will be attempting to buck two damaging trends on Sunday. He has still never defeated Mourinho in 15 competitive matches and his team have beaten only Chelsea this season from the Premier League’s top seven. Wenger attempted to draw a distinction between his club’s home and away form, admitting that they have “faded” away from the Emirates. The home atmosphere will again be tense on Sunday, with Arsenal fans divided over whether Wenger should stay and the two managers having made no secret of their mutual antipathy.
As well as their various verbal exchanges, Wenger shoved Mourinho during a confrontation at Stamford Bridge and has refused to shake his rival’s hand on several occasions. Wenger’s relationship with Sir Alex Ferguson was once similarly fractious but that did ultimately mellow. “We have respect,” said Wenger. “I think I try to respect everybody and I do not want to make a case of any person.”
And so could his relationship with Mourinho also ultimately thaw? “I am open always in life for everything,” said Wenger. “You know, for peace. But what is important when you are a competitor is that you give absolutely everything to win the next game.” Wenger had previously said that a decision on his own future would be confirmed in “March or April” but he and the club are still delaying on confirming whether he will sign a new two-year contract.
A top four finish, says Wenger, is “not necessarily” decisive in that decision. He also does not expect Arsenal’s transfer policy to be impacted by failing to qualify for the Champions League and believes they are also well insulated against declining in the same way as Manchester United after Sir Alex Ferguson departed in 2013.
“It can as well go better from when I leave one day,” said Wenger. “When you are such a long time at a club like I am, like Ferguson was, it is a little bit like when you have children. You want them to be happy. Even when you are not there anymore, you want them to be happy.
“I am not in a position to judge what happened to Man Utd. I am sure they will come back and fight for the Premier League again. They are in a rebuilding phase and they have quality inside the club and the resources to come back to fight for the Premier League.” Arsenal will be without Granit Xhaka from their central midfield on Sunday after he suffered a swollen ankle during Sunday’s 2-0 defeat against Tottenham but Shkodran Mustafi is again available.