The Gunners boss - who has yet to defeat Mourinho in 12 attempts - said on Thursday, with regards to Sunday’s game, that: "It’s easy to defend. If we have to defend, then we will defend.”
However, Mourinho swiftly hit back, highlighting the Gunners’ shock Champions League exit to Monaco as evidence to the contrary.
“It’s not easy, not easy,” he told reporters. “If it was easy, you wouldn’t lose 3-1 at home to Monaco. If he defends well he draws 0-0 against Monaco and wins in Monte Carlo. It’s not easy to defend.”
Mourinho also took time to explain how his team’s strategy has changed in recent months as the Blues close in on a first Premier League title since 2010.
“Injuries and suspensions: we lost progressively the balance of our team,” he added.
“We played amazingly well during the most part of the season, scoring a lot of goals and controlling games very well through the quality of our possession. In the last period we are more strategic, less artistic, because from a certain moment Diego injured or suspended; [Nemanja] Matic suspended, injured; [Cesc] Fabregas injured, suspended; Diego injured again.
“When you lose crucial pieces, the team loses certain qualities but we are still achieving results. It’s like if you are at sea and your boat sinks, you need something to survive. A raft. In football, team spirit and team ethics, and strategy, is this.
“We have been top of the league since day one. We are the second team in terms of goals scored. We are the second-best team for goals conceded.
“The team with fewest defeats. We have some of the most spectacular team goals of the season. So, if we manage to win the league, we did everything right.”
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