Jose Mourinho: Arsenal have chance to increase lead this week

Jose Mourinho believes Arsenal will view their next two Premier League games at The Emirates as a chance to open up an even bigger gap at the top of the table.

Chelsea moved into second place and four points behind the league leaders after a convincing 3-1 victory over Southampton at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

Mourinho’s men travel to Sunderland and Stoke City in their next two top-flight outings.

Arsenal, meanwhile, have the luxury of successive home games against Hull City and Everton – and Mourinho expects their rivals to collect six points.

We can’t speak about title favourites. We can say one team is top of the league and some are a little bit far. All six teams are title contenders

Jose Mourinho

“They play two matches at home and we play two matches away. Maybe they have a chance to open the gap and not us to close the gap,” Mourinho told a news conference.

“The home factor is always a factor. This week Arsenal will be looking to open the gap from us because it looks like for them the six points will be easier to get than us.

“We play Sunderland and Stoke – teams who are better than the number of points that they have.”

However, Mourinho doesn’t believe that Arsenal are clear favourites for the Premier League title and earmarked Manchester City’s squad as the strongest in the race.

“We can’t speak about favourites,” he added.

“We can say one team is top of the league and some are a little bit far. All six teams are title contenders.

“I keep saying that the team with more responsibilities to win it because the squad is quite unique is Manchester City.”