Chelsea and the Gunners head to Wembley next weekend to contest the Community Shield and the Portuguese took the time to take a swipe at his opposite number
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has suggested Arsene Wenger needs to consult a calculator when comparing Arsenal and the Blues.
The Frenchman previously said it was “impossible” for the Gunners to win the Premier League over the last few years, something Mourinho disputes.
The Portuguese guided Chelsea to the title in 2014-15 and in the lead up to the new campaign says Wenger’s assessment doesn’t ring true.
“If you add up the amounts the clubs have spent in the last three or four years I think maybe you will find a surprise,” he told reporters.
“Get a calculator. That is one of the easiest things to do. It leaves no space for speculation. If you want to be honest, objective and pragmatic it is the easiest job for a manager or a journalist to do.
“They have bought a fantastic goalkeeper and that is a position which is very important in a team.
“If you put [Mesut] Ozil plus [Alexis] Sanchez, plus [Calum] Chambers, plus [Mathieu] Debuchy you will maybe find a surprise.”
Chelsea finished 12 points ahead of the Gunners last term, also winning the League Cup, while Wenger’s men picked up their second FA Cup in as many seasons.
And although Mourinho’s men go into the new season as title favourites, he believes Arsenal and three others will push his side all the way.
He added: “It’s a fantastic squad with good players, fantastic goalkeeper. They are more than ready to be title contenders.
“Everyone of us should expect to win the title. We have five teams who will play for the title, only one will win and one of us will be playing Europa League in two years.
“That is the reality, five teams for four Champions League positions, only one will be champion and one in Europa League.”
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