Arsene Wenger promised to shake hands with Jose Mourinho when the old foes meet again at Old Trafford on Saturday and dismissed the theory that the Manchester United manager has a psychological hold over his team.
In the stormy series of duels between his Arsenal side and Mourinho’s teams, Wenger has won once — in the FA Community Shield in 2015 — drawn six and lost eight.
‘We didn’t always lose,’ said Wenger. ‘We have beaten them. There were many draws. I have won against every manager in the world during 20 years. I don’t have to describe our relationship, he will fight for his team and I will fight for mine.’
Asked if they would shake hands, he smiled and replied: ‘I will respect the ritual so important in the Premier League.
‘I do not make it a competition between two managers. It is Arsenal against Man United. You do not play against a manager, you play against a team and you analyse their strengths and weaknesses.
‘What makes it for the audience is the quality of the game. We have seen some games this season not respond to the expectation level.
‘This game will be watched all over the world and what’s important is that the quality of the game is good.’
Mourinho was criticised for his tactics earlier in the season when United travelled to Liverpool for a much-hyped Monday night clash which ended in a goalless draw.
That game was surely at the forefront of Wenger’s mind when he spoke about entertainment for the television audience.
A victory at Old Trafford on Saturday would lift Arsenal to the top of the Premier League table and Wenger said: ‘A win would strengthen belief. We are on a very strong run of 16 unbeaten games. There was a little hiccup against Tottenham at home, we had an opportunity to go top which we didn’t take.
‘United are not so far away. Everything can change very quickly. We have played only 11 matches and of the big clubs there is no one definitely out of the title race.’
Daily Mail