Arsenal are top of the Premier League after 17 games, one point ahead of Liverpool and Aston Villa, five ahead of champions Manchester City, and six ahead of north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur. But they remain the subjects of apprehension after last season's late title collapse, and Jose Mourinho is among their doubters.
Mikel Arteta's project is clicking again this term. He has a team that looks capable of challenging for the Premier League and putting together a deep run in the Champions League.
But they looked just as convincing as they led the way for large parts of the 2022/23 campaign before gift-wrapping a third consecutive title for Pep Guardiola and City.
Mourinho knows a thing or two about Premier League glory. The 60-year-old didn't hit those heights at Manchester United or Spurs but guided Chelsea to the title in 2005, 2006 and 2015.
And he believes Arsenal don't have what it takes to go the full distance again this season, brutally shutting down Arteta's hopes.
"Nah. Rivalry apart, I would like them to win. Of course, Chelsea is not going to win. It is out of the question," Mourinho said recently, as carried in reports from Football London.
Jose Mourinho isn't convinced by Arsenal's title push. (Image: Getty)
He added: "Of course, Manchester United is not going to win it too; I don't speak about Manchester United.
"So it is between these three [Arsenal, City and Liverpool], and out of these three, I would like Arsenal to win it.
"But 51 [per cent chance for City], 49 [for Liverpool]. And I say 51, 49 because when the accumulation of matches are coming, Man City has two teams [with their squad depth]."
Mourinho has risked Arteta's wrath with his dismissive comments about Arsenal's title credentials, and he boasts a 2-1 managerial record over the Spaniard.
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