Arsene Wenger is a 'specialist in failure' - Jose Mourinho

Arsene Wenger is a "specialist in failure", according to Jose Mourinho.

The Chelsea boss was responding to the Arsenal manager's claim that other Premier League bosses are playing down their title chances because they "fear to fail".

Chelsea hold a one-point lead over the Gunners at the top of the table.

Mourinho said: "If he is right and I am afraid of failure it is because I didn't fail many times. Eight years without silverware, that's failure."

Under Wenger, Arsenal have not won a trophy since the 2005 FA Cup.

"He's a specialist in failure," continued Mourinho. "If I do that in Chelsea, eight years, I leave and don't come back."

The Portuguese manager, who won the Premier League twice in his first spell as Chelsea manager between 2004 and 2007, has won league titles in four countries, as well as the Champions League with Porto and Inter Milan.

This is not the first time Mourinho has criticised Wenger, the Blues boss having described the Frenchman as a "voyeur" in 2005 after his rival questioned Chelsea's transfer policy.

"He likes to watch other people," said Mourinho in October 2005. "There are some guys who, when they are at home, have a big telescope to see what happens in other families.

"He speaks, speaks, speaks about Chelsea."