Arsene Wenger responds to Jose Mourinho’s comments about Arsenal

Arsene Wenger has insisted that he is paying no attention to what Jose Mourinho has had to say about his Arsenal side in recent days.

The Chelsea manager this week stated his belief that the Gunners must be considered genuine Premier League title contenders next season as Wenger looks to steer his side to their first top-flight title since 2004.

We spend when we think we have to spend and don’t listen too much to what people have to say

Arsene Wenger

Mourinho, whose side won a Premier League and League Cup double last season, also took the chance to point out that Arsenal have spent big in recent seasons to sign the likes of Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez and Calum Chambers.

However, Wenger – whose Arsenal side are preparing to face Chelsea in Sunday’s Community Shield clash at Wembley – says that he is not thinking about what his Stamford Bridge counterpart has had to say in the lead-up to the new season.

“The pressure [comes from] a desire to do well,” Wenger told a news conference at Emirates Stadium on Tuesday afternoon. We want to do well and we enjoy to play together.

“What we want is not to listen too much to what people say. I believe if you want to create success [you have] to focus on the inside and believe in the football we want to play – and let other people talk.”

The Frenchman also moved to defend his side’s recent spending in the transfer market.

He continued: “We spend when we think we have to spend and don’t listen too much to what people have to say. You don’t spend the money you haven’t got.”