Arsenal vs Chelsea: Jose Mourinho's departure gives Arsenal a renewed hope

Stats suggest that a Chelsea devoid of Mourinho is far more likely to face Arsenal defeat

Wenger and Mourinho clashing in 2014 (Getty Images)

As Arsenal prepare to face Chelsea this afternoon at the Emirates, Arsene Wenger may well be relieved to see a Chelsea dug-out with no Jose Mourinho.

Of all managers the tussle with the Portuguese 'Special One' has proved Wenger’s hardest. After 14 attempts against Chelsea, Wenger was never able to manage a win.

Touchline clashes and endless mind games were the norm between two managers always wrangling to be 'top dog' in the Premier League. In truth Mourinho got the better of the Frenchman and was a master of twisting the knife into that fact.

“He is a specialist in failure, I am not. The reality is he is a specialist because eight years without a piece of silverware, that is failure. If I did that in Chelsea I would leave London and not come back" Mourinho said in 2014.

And whilst a 6-0 drubbing on the occasion of Wenger’s 1,000^th game as manager may have been a low point of his career, the Frenchman has managed to deliver trophies since. Back-to-back FA Cup wins enabled the North London side to throw off the trophy hoodoo which had engulfed them since 2005.

Whilst Mourinho was able to deliver a title back to Stamford Bridge, his December departure after his sides disastrous start to the season leaves a bitter taste in the mouth of any Chelsea fan.

With the now unemployed Portuguese manager spending his Christmas preparing letters to prospective employers Manchester United, Wenger’s Arsenal have continued their advance on the league title. The Gunners have lost only once since November and look set to continue their good form in this afternoon’s fixture.

Without Mourinho, Chelsea have only beaten their London rivals six times since 1996 having lost 50% of their games against the Frenchman. Ancelotti, Villas-Boas and Scolari all suffered defeats at the hands of an Arsenal side that finds the going easier with Mourinho out of the picture.

Guus Hiddink, though, has proved as an equally difficult manager for Wenger to overcome. In his last Chelsea spell the Dutchman was able to thwart Wenger in both of their meetings. Hiddink’s Blues were able to score six goals in two games against the Gunners, throwing them out of the FA Cup on the way to their own eventual triumph.

Hiddink’s return has already prompted a seven-game streak without a loss with fifteen goals in the process. Whilst a Premier League title may be out of reach, scuppering Arsenal’s chances would elicit delight amongst Chelsea fans and renewed calls for the employment of the ex-Russia and Netherlands manager on a permanent basis.

There can be no mistaking the sense of optimism that emanates throughout the Arsenal dressing room. With the haunting spectre of Mourinho now lingering away from the Stamford Bridge dressing room a win is perhaps more of a prospect in today’s match-up. But Hiddink’s Chelsea are operating with a renewed sense of purpose. Wenger will hope to secure three points today to avoid allowing Hiddink to cast a Mourinho-like spell over his Arsenal side