Arsenal are a title threat to Chelsea, admits Jose Mourinho after draw with Southampton

Jose Mourinho claims Arsenal are back in the race for the Barclays Premier League title after Chelsea were held 1-1 by Southampton.

Arsenal beat West Ham 3-0 on Saturday and Arsene Wenger’s side, who have not won the league since 2004, are now seven points behind Chelsea.

Manchester City were beaten at Burnley 1-0 and Chelsea could only draw at Stamford Bridge.

Jose Mourinho has admitted that Arsenal have joined Chelsea and Manchester City in the title race

Jose Mourinho has admitted that Arsenal have joined Chelsea and Manchester City in the title race

The Blues struggled to break down Southampton despite Diego Costa's first-half opener at Stamford Bridge

The Blues struggled to break down Southampton despite Diego Costa's first-half opener at Stamford Bridge

Arsenal saw off the threat of West Ham at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday with an impressive 3-0 win

Arsenal saw off the threat of West Ham at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday with an impressive 3-0 win

Mourinho said: ‘Of course Arsenal are in it. They are seven points behind Chelsea, but have one less match to play than Chelsea.


‘Both City and Arsenal are in the title race. It depends on the momentum for Arsenal - the 3-1 defeat against Monaco or the 3-0 defeat against West Ham?

‘So the danger is always there. But I keep saying, we are there. If someone had told me in August that, at the end of March, we'd be six points in front with a match in hand, I'd have signed for that immediately.

‘There are two perspectives. One perspective is a draw at home to Southampton is not a good result. For me, that perspective is very acceptable.

‘The second perspective is we had a lead of five points from second, and now it's six points with one less match to play.’

Mourinho believed a wrongly-awarded penalty denied his side an eight-point lead over Manchester City at the top of the league.

The Portuguese coach was fined £25,000 for saying there was a 'clear campaign' against his side after Cesc Fabregas was denied a penalty and booked for diving instead in the December 28 draw at St Mary's. 

Mourinho says that Arsenal are a danger to Chelsea, although he is happy with his current strong position

Mourinho says that Arsenal are a danger to Chelsea, although he is happy with his current strong position

On Sunday Mourinho was frustrated Nemanja Matic was penalised - allowing Dusan Tadic to score from the spot and cancel out Diego Costa's first Premier League goal for almost two months - while Branislav Ivanovic was not awarded a spot kick at the other end.

'I'm happy with the situation. I'm happy with the six-point lead, but I'm not happy with the result,' Mourinho said.

'If you remember our two matches against Southampton: in one game, one penalty that is not a penalty and in another game a penalty that was not given. You are speaking about six points transformed into two points.'

Mike Dean (right) gave Southampton the penalty for their equaliser, Mourinho said that it 'is not a penalty'

Mike Dean (right) gave Southampton the penalty for their equaliser, Mourinho said that it 'is not a penalty'

Thibaut Courtois could not keep out Dusan Tadic's spot-kick and the playmaker secured a point for Saints

Thibaut Courtois could not keep out Dusan Tadic's spot-kick and the playmaker secured a point for Saints

Mourinho was clearly upset with the penalty decisions, but bit his tongue on this occasion.

He said: 'My opinion is not important. Important is Mr Mike Dean (the referee).

'His decision was a penalty and his decision was no penalty on Ivanovic.'

Ivanovic may have been clipped by Tadic, but fell theatrically, dissuading Dean from pointing to the spot.

Nemanja Matic brought down Saido Mane for Southampton's equaliser but Mourinho was clearly upset

Nemanja Matic brought down Saido Mane for Southampton's equaliser but Mourinho was clearly upset

Branislav Ivanovic went down in search of a penalty but Dean did not give the desired spot-kick

Branislav Ivanovic went down in search of a penalty but Dean did not give the desired spot-kick

Asked about the fall, Mourinho deferred to his media officer sitting alongside, saying: 'You have to control me, if not...'

Mourinho was told television pundit Graeme Souness - with whom he had a public exchange of views this week after the Scot criticised Chelsea's conduct in the Champions League exit to Paris St Germain - thought Matic had conceded a penalty.

'Graeme Souness says also that it's more a reason to criticise a player who asks for a yellow card than a player who kicks somebody in the chest,' Mourinho added.

'I went to Sky and they told me their pundits said it's a penalty. I went to BBC and they told me it's not a penalty. I went to the radios and they told me it's not a penalty.

Mourinho was told television pundit Graeme Souness thought Matic had conceded a penalty, and responded

Mourinho was told television pundit Graeme Souness thought Matic had conceded a penalty, and responded

Mourinho said that pundits 'win every game' due to their position of being critical but exempt from criticism

Mourinho said that pundits 'win every game' due to their position of being critical but exempt from criticism

'Pundits are paid to wear my suit, but I'm not paid to wear their suit or to comment on their comments.

'If one day I become a pundit, I will wear a manager's suit. I will win every game, because pundits win every game, and then I can be critical and I can be phenomenal like they are.'

Matic was replaced by Ramires soon after a second-half foul on Sadio Mane which could have seen him booked for a second time - after his initial yellow when giving away the penalty - and sent off for a second successive Premier League game.

'When that penalty is given you have to believe that the second yellow card can come,' said Mourinho.

Matic was substituted for Ramires in the second half but could have seen a second yellow card for one foul

Matic was substituted for Ramires in the second half but could have seen a second yellow card for one foul

VIDEO Arsenal still not in title race - Wenger