Mourinho is 75 games unbeaten at home in the Premier League, while Wenger has NEVER got the better of him in 10 games... but ahead of his 1000th match will 'specialist in failure' finally taste victory?

Arsene Wenger might have preferred a different venue to mark such a prestigious milestone as 1,000 games in charge of Arsenal.

A date with Jose Mourinho at Stamford Bridge can be the source of hostility and aggravation for rival managers but seldom any points.

It is 75 unbeaten home games and counting in the Barclays Premier League for Mourinho, who was unable to resist the chance to damn one of his favourite victims with more faint praise on the eve of a remarkable achievement.

These two have bickered about telescopes, handshakes and Christmas cards over their years of combat while Wenger considers Mourinho a champion of ‘financial doping’ and finds himself branded a ‘specialist in failure’ in return.

This fixture has wallowed in animosity for 10 years, since Roman Abramovich aimed his ‘Russian tanks’ at Highbury and Mourinho arrived in London to depose the Invincibles.

But if Sir Alex Ferguson is right and these bitter managerial feuds are necessary by-products of elite competition, then Wenger will be pleased to be firmly back in Mourinho’s range.

Four points separate the teams. Arsenal have a game in hand; Chelsea a better goal difference. Chelsea have Willian and Ramires suspended; Arsenal their usual injury pile-up. Arsenal have the Premier League’s best away record; Chelsea a tight home defence.