Mikel Arteta felt that John Obi Mikel could have been sent off for a first-half challenge at Emirates Stadium, while Arsene Wenger also thought the Chelsea midfielder was lucky to escape without so much as a slap on the wrist.
Arsenal might also have had a penalty after Willian’s tackle on Theo Walcott before half-time, but Mourinho thought the Arsenal over-reacted to the incidents.
He said: “They like to cry – that’s tradition. I prefer to say that English people – and I give one example, Frank Lampard – would never provoke a situation like that.
“Players from other countries, especially some countries, they have that in their blood.
“Foreign players are bringing lots of good things, but I prefer English blood in football and English blood in these situations is ‘come on, let’s go’.”
Asked specifically about Mikel’s tackle, Mourinho insisted it was fair.
He added: “It was a hard one, an aggressive one. Football is for men or for women with fantastic attitude.
“There are other sports without contact and fantastic sports and sports that demand a lot from the players, but no contact.
“Football is a game of contact. English football, winter, water on the pitch, the sliding tackles become at a fantastic speed. So be proud, play with pride.”
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