‘I don’t look down’: Mourinho mocks Arsenal ahead of North London derby

TOTTENHAM Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho has taken a jibe at Arsenal’s positionposition on the Premier League table ahead of Sunday’s North London derby.

Spurs are seventh with 45 points, three places and seven points ahead of their neighbours and rivals going into the encounter at the Emirates Stadium.

“I look up, I don’t look down,” Mourinho said during his pre-match press conference on Friday.

“If Arsenal was seven points ahead of us I would look to them but because we have seven points more than them, I don’t look down.

“At the same time, we look always to the next match and if instead of Arsenal it was Villa or Newcastle – exactly the same feeling.”

Tottenham are five points adrift of fourth-placed Chelsea in the battle for Champions League spots, and Mourinho demands that his team climb up the table.

The Portuguese said: “We feel we’re better than the position we have in the table and we want to improve our position so we need points for that. 

“It doesn’t matter the opponent, doesn’t matter if it is a derby. It’s a Premier League match, three points are there to fight for and that’s what we’re going to do.”

Mourinho recognises Arsenal’s pedigree though and describes them as a club ‘with a big history’.

“Like us they’re trying to build a better future,” the former Chelsea manager added. “I have total respect for them.”

Tottenham are in very good form at the moment, winning six of their last seven matches in all competitions and scoring 20 goals in the process.

Arsenal on the other hand have been very strong at home since the turn of the year, with only Manchester City beating them at the Emirates in 2021.