Arsene Wenger Hits Back at Jose Mourinho as Arsenal and Chelsea Row Escalates

Arsene Wenger has taken a swipe in Jose Mourinho's direction, claiming his Gunners side are historically mistreated by the fixture list.

As reported by Kevin Palmer of ESPN FC, the Frenchman called on an "objective analysis" to suggest his team have less resting time between matches than the club's rivals:

"

If you look at the fixtures and analyse it with an objective view, you will see that Arsenal are behind all the other teams.

In the last five years, all the objective studies that have been made have shown that Arsenal have less rest than any other team at the top level in the top four. That’s facts -- nothing to do with my opinion.

"

Wenger's outburst comes after Mourinho claimed Arsenal "always" receive "the best days to play," per Miguel Delaney of ESPN FC.

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The pair have taken potshots at each other across the last week after Wenger suggested Mourinho's decision to sell Juan Mata to Manchester United doesn't respect "fairness," as reported by Sky Sports.

United have faced Chelsea twice, but it's possible Mata can take on the Blues' title rivals on more than two occasions, something Wenger believes isn't right during the January transfer window.

Mourinho responded by saying the same can happen during the summer market and that Wenger's moaning is "normal because he always does," per Sam Wallace of The Independent.

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The duo's latest bickering shouldn't come as a surprise. Wenger and Mourinho shared a strained relationship during the Portuguese manager's first stint at Stamford Bridge, and it seems very little has changed.

Among the pair's most famous exchanges of times gone by, Mourinho labelled Wenger a "voyeur" after the Gunners boss commented on a disappointing Chelsea result in 2005, per BBC Sport.

Arsenal are just two points ahead of Chelsea heading into the next round of fixtures. As tweeted by Bleacher Report UK, Wenger's scheduling problems are only going to heighten across the coming months:

Wenger has confirmed Arsenal are "unlikely" to sign any fresh faces during the current transfer window, per Sky Sports.

The title race is destined to go all the way this season, and with Chelsea hosting Arsenal on Mar. 22, a clash between the two managers could decide where this year's silverware ends up.