Mourinho believes that Arsenal are Premier League title contenders
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho believes Arsenal are Premier League title contenders following their 3-0 win over West Ham at the weekend.
Mourinho had said in the build-up to Sunday's game against Southampton that Chelsea 'will go on to win the league' this season, but the Blues were held to a 1-1 draw by the Saints to move six rather than eight points clear of Manchester City at the summit.
Arsenal are a point further back after a fifth straight league win, and Mourinho accepts Arsene Wenger's side must be considered title challengers.
"Of course (Arsenal are in contention)," he said. "Seven points behind Chelsea and one less match to play than Chelsea.
"I keep thinking whether our opposition is better than them [over the run-in]. I think so. Both teams are in the race."
Chelsea exited the Champions League to Paris Saint-Germain in midweek and have now dropped points in successive Premier League home games having drawn with Burnley last month, but Mourinho questioned whether Arsenal now had the greater momentum of the two teams.
"Which momentum?" he said. "Three-one against Monaco or 3-0 against West Ham? It depends on the momentum."
Mourinho argued Sunday's result was positive and says Chelsea are in a stronger position than he expected them to be at this stage of the season.
He added: "If someone had told me in August that at the end of March we'd be six points in front with a match in hand, I'd have signed for that immediately."
