Manchester United vs. Arsenal: Jose Mourinho's Key Pre-Match Presser Quotes

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has confirmed Wayne Rooney is "ready to play" against Arsenal on Saturday after the 31-year-old was photographed drinking at a wedding while on international duty.

Per the Times' Paul Hirst, he confirmed Rooney is available to play against the Gunners, and according to Metro's Chris Winterburn, he added:

"

Over the last two to three days nothing happened, he trained like everyone else and he wants to play like everyone else.

When he goes to the national team it isn't my business, what happens for good or bad, I don't interfere.

National teams are a different chapter, this is closed now until I think March or end of February.

"

Sky Sports News HQ's Andy Burton had reported Mourinho was "furious" with the Football Association following the incident, but it appears it will not affect Rooney's game time against Arsenal at Old Trafford.

Mourinho was also questioned on Chris Smalling and Luke Shaw, whom he appeared to criticise after making themselves unavailable to face Swansea City prior to the international break, despite reports emerging the former had broken his toe, per Sky Sports News HQ.

He would not be drawn on Smalling's fitness, though, per Hirst:

Winterburn believed Mourinho took issue with the press rather than the defender, however:

On Saturday, the Special One will come up against his old rival, Gunners counterpart Arsene Wenger, and he stoked the fires ahead of the clash:

Mourinho has lost just once in 15 matches against Wenger over the course of his managerial career, and aside from last year's Community Shield—the only match the Frenchman has won—he has not conceded a goal against Arsenal since 2007.

Nevertheless, he insisted he is simply focusing on the game at hand, per United's official Twitter feed:

Finally, Mourinho reiterated his goal is to win the Premier League with the Red Devils, per Winterburn:

"

I want to win a ninth championship and a fourth Premier League.

I am in the club I want to be, it's as simple. When I was sacked at Chelsea I had lots of offers, I could have been back in one week.

I have been champion with four different clubs, I want to do that at Manchester United.

I didn't sign a one-year contract, I signed a three-year contract.

"

United may not quite be out of the title race this season just yet, but they do find themselves eight points off the lead—a defeat to Arsenal would realistically put them out of contention.

A win would put them just three points behind the Gunners, though, and could act as a springboard to help fire them toward the top of the table.

Arsenal come into the game having lost only once in all competitions this season, and that was on the opening day, so they're very much in good form.

However, Mourinho's success against them cannot be ignored—it's shaping up to be an unmissable match.