Wenger: Mourinho must show more respect

Arsene Wenger accepts things can get a “bit heated” between rival managers, but feels Jose Mourinho showed a lack of respect when the Chelsea boss said 10 years without winning the title must be “very boring” for Arsenal supporters.

Some Gunners fans chanted “boring, boring Chelsea” during last weekend’s 0-0 draw at the Emirates Stadium, which moved the Blues a step closer to the Premier League title for the first time since 2010.

Chelsea manager Mourinho responded by turning the tables back on Arsenal, who last won the English top flight in 2004.

There is certainly no love lost between Wenger and Mourinho, the pair having squared up in the technical area at Stamford Bridge earlier this season.

The Arsenal boss was given the opportunity to respond when he spoke to the media yesterday ahead of the Premier League match at Hull on Monday night.

When asked what he thought of Mourinho’s comments, Wenger replied: “The biggest thing for a manager is to respect other managers. Some people have to improve on that.”

Asked if Mourinho should conduct himself with more dignity, the Arsenal manager answered: “Look, everybody lives with his own internal problems and I live with mine. That’s enough.”

Arsenal could be down to fourth place by the time they kick off at Hull on Monday.

Wenger was asked if he felt the deficit was a fair reflection of the difference between the two sides, with Arsenal having enjoyed a superb run of form in 2015 after a poor start.

''That is always very difficult to say because when you fight for the championship, you win some games because you smell you can do it, not because you’re fourth or fifth. It doesn’t always represent the value of the team,” the Arsenal boss said.

''The gap is a gap and they have been more consistent than us from the start of the game. They had a very strong start and that kept them going until the end.”

Wenger has a near full-strength squad to choose from, just full-back Mathieu Debuchy doubtful because of a hamstring problem. Midfielders Abou Diaby and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could be into contention before the end of the season, along with captain Mikel Arteta.

''He makes progress week by week, but needs more time,” said Wenger, who expects both Arteta and Tomas Rosicky to agree new deals.

Arsenal have been linked with a summer move for an experienced goalkeeper, including Chelsea veteran Petr Cech. Wenger, though, indicated that was an area which he had confidence already.

''I believe in the goalkeepers I have,” added the Arsenal boss.

Wenger has revealed Chile agreed not to call up Alexis Sanchez for the Copa America until after the FA Cup final, but fears the forward could miss the start of the next season if La Roja enjoy a successful summer.

''They (Chile) could call him up. We got an agreement they won’t call him (before the FA Cup final),” said Wenger. “They (Chile) finish very late and if they go very far, he will miss the start of the season.”