Premier League: Arsenal in last-chance saloon as Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho renew rivalry

Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho continue one of the most poisonous and one-sided rivalries in English football when Arsenal host Manchester United on Sunday. A fixture that once enjoyed the cachet of a heavyweight title fight – and often resembled one on the pitch as England’s preeminent teams slugged it out – has been relegated in status with United fifth and Arsenal sixth in the Premier League.

But although it has no bearing on the title race and both clubs are struggling to even finish in the top four, Wenger and Mourinho in such close proximity will add some needle to this weekend’s Emirates Stadium showdown. Wenger has won only one of 15 meetings with a Mourinho team, and even that came in the Community Shield. What is more, he has endured regular taunts from nemesis Mourinho – a coach with vastly different football philosophy.

Mourinho once labelled Wenger a “voyeur” and on another occasion called him a “specialist in failure”. For his part, Wenger branded Mourinho “stupid”. This season’s clash at Old Trafford, which ended in a 1-1 draw, passed off peacefully, but the relationship remains frosty.

Were in not for the two managers involved, the significance of Sunday’s fixture would be …read more