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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Callum Vurley

Jose Mourinho's furious attack on "disgraceful" Arsenal after Tottenham heroics

Neutrals were treated to an absolute spectacle on this day in 2004 when Tottenham hosted Arsenal in a north London derby to be remembered.

In a wild 5-4 result, each side took it in turns to score with Spurs striking first blood through Noureddine Naybet before Thierry Henry equalised.

Lauren put the Gunners ahead through a penalty as Patrick Vieira added a third while Jermain Defoe halved their lead.

Freddie Ljungberg restored Arsenal’s two-goal lead but Ledley King headed home a third for the home side.

But the goals kept flying in as Robert Pires netted a fifth at White Hart Lane before Freddie Kanoute gave Spurs some hope.

Robert Pires would score the eventual winner for Arsenal vs Tottenham (Reuters)

It was a rollercoaster of an encounter in Martin Jol’s first game in charge after taking over from Jacques Santini.

And while neutrals watched on with astonishment, one onlooker was not impressed at all - the new boss in town Mourinho.

It took just a few months for the self-anointed Special One to begin his feud with Arsene Wenger, that would stretch on for over a decade.

In a scathing review of the match, he condemned Arsenal’s defending - despite them reclaiming top spot in the Premier League at the time.

Mourinho said at the time: "Five-four is a hockey score, not a football score.

"In a three-against-three training match, if the score reaches 5-4 I send the players back to the dressing rooms as they are not defending properly.

"So to get a result like that in a game of 11 against 11 is disgraceful."

That weekend, Chelsea beat their west London rivals Fulham 4-1 that saw them return to the top of the Premier League.

Arsenal were the team to beat after Wenger had led them to the title the season before, in their famous Invincibles campaign.

But the Blues were giving them a run for their money with some electric displays early on.

Mourinho had insisted from the start that they could become champions and Arsenal’s poor defensive showing against Tottenham only made him more assured of victory.

He said: “I don't think it is being arrogant or vain. I think it is confidence, because I have belief in the players and that they can win."

Arsenal would go on to finish second to Chelsea that season - though they finished 12 points behind their London rivals.

Mourinho's men lost just once and conceded a mere 15 times while the Gunners tasted defeat on five occasions, letting in 36 goals along the way.

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