Arsenal seek title proof in Chelsea encounter

The Dutchman played at Old Trafford for six years, winning four Premier League titles, the Champions League and the League Cup.

Last year Eden Hazard, 24, was player of the year and is now talked of in the same breath as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, at least he is by his manager Jose Mourinho.

“You know, it will not be a friendly, because it is just like that – and it is good like that”, said Wenger.

Mourinho said: “I believe (Costa is free of injury), but I’m not anxious about it. I go match after match”.

“We’re very pleased with them both signing contract extensions, as it provides our squad with further stability of quality”. “It is not a friendly…it is more than that but less than a Premier League match”. One thing we do know is that Arsenal will be missing Alexis Sanchez, which will be a big blow to the gunners hopes.

“I didn’t think about [Wenger] until about a couple of weeks before I play against his team”.

As an example, he said: “Crystal Palace buy Yohan Cabaye and Connor Wickham”.

“I don’t agree with you”, Mourinho added.

“Welcome this mentality, welcome this economic power, welcome this ambition”.

Wenger, whose tetchy relationship with Mourinho spilled over into a touchline scuffle at Stamford Bridge last season, responded in sanguine fashion.

It is an approach that does seem unsafe given the signings at the Manchester clubs, and Arsenal’s pursuit of a striker, but Fabregas does not see this powerful trio as the biggest threat to Chelsea defending the title. The gunners have not beat their West London rivals since the 5-3 game from October 2011.

“Theo’s been at the club now for 10 years and we’re finally starting to see the full range of his talent”. It’s his decision. “We want the best for him and want him to be happy but hopefully not on Sunday for once”.

Mourinho has a strong squad, but admits he is short of options in defence – something he will seek to address before the transfer window closes.

Diego Costa is fit for Wembley despite withdrawing from the pre-season clash with Barcelona in the United States with a feared recurrence of his hamstring problems.

“Five is not enough”.

“It is going to be more hard now for all of us”.

Tomorrow will be a good look at both sides’ first-team lineups, as the starters tomorrow will likely be the starters when the Premier League kicks off next week.

Chelsea’s pursuit of John Stones has hit an impasse, with Everton holding firm.

And Mourinho believes he is getting better with age.

“The market sometimes has no rules, ” Mourinho added.

“We are our own biggest threat”, he argues. We can play with two. And I think less points will win the title. “I wouldn’t like to interfere in that”. We know that in the first phase I completely disagree.

“A lot of kids dream of playing at Wembley so you’ve always got to take it in, put 100 per cent in and I will, like all my team-mates will do too”.

“For me there is no relation between one game and what happened before”.