Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho says that he has always seen Arsenal as Premier League title contenders, swatting away talk that signing Petr Cech has transformed the Gunners into contenders for the forthcoming campaign.
Mourinho's Chelsea are due to lock horns with Arsene Wenger's Arsenal in the Community Shield this coming weekend and the match will be studied closely for clues as to how the title race may play out.
At a press conference today Mourinho was asked if having signed Cech now makes Arsenal contenders. And he replied: "I always think they are.
"I always think they have a very good squad, so in this second period [for me] in England, immediately when I arrived two years ago, I looked at them as a very good squad with very good players.
"So it's more of the same, they are a top squad", he added.
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Mourinho was also asked if he is proud of his record of never having led a side which have been beaten by a side managed by Gunners boss Wenger.
But the Portuguese insists he is not concerned about individual records and is instead always focused on doing the best for his team.
"I just want my club to get the best possible result", Mourinho explained.
"It doesn't matter Arsenal, it doesn't matter the manager. I just want my teams, my clubs, to try to get the best possible results."
Mourinho's side eased to the Premier League title last season, while Wenger's Arsenal could only finish third and never mounted a credible challenge to Chelsea for the crown.
