Jose Mourinho: Manchester United are the unluckiest team in the Premier League

Mourinho also refused to criticise referee Andre Marriner following his side's 1-1 draw against Arsenal.

Jose Mourinho has labelled Manchester United as the unluckiest team in the Premier League after they dropped two points in their Saturday lunchtime (19 November) showdown against old rivals Arsenal. The hosts were much the better side throughout and looked to have secured a well-earned victory after the interval when Juan Mata swept home Ander Herrera's cutback with a lovely side-footed finish.

However, the otherwise toothless and lethargic Gunners, without a top-flight win at Old Trafford since September 2006, had different ideas and salvaged an unlikely late point when Olivier Giroud soared highest to emphatically head home an enticing 89th-minute cross from fellow substitute Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Such a result was the first time inconsistent United have drawn three consecutive home league games since 1992 and Mourinho, while upbeat regarding the quality of the performance and "super happy" with supporters for applauding the team despite that late equaliser, clearly believes that his sixth-place side are not getting the rub of the green on their own turf.

"I'm really happy with the team, the team that in this moment I consider the unluckiest team in the Premier League," he told Sky Sports after the full-time whistle.

"It's the reality. If we analyse the last three matches at home, against Stoke we have to win five [or] six-nil [but] we draw, against Burnley we have to win five [or] six-nil [but] we draw. And today we have to win two [or] three-nil and we draw too. I think we are the unluckiest team, but the team is playing well. The players are working really well."

A tame first half was briefly illuminated by a strong penalty appeal from the returning Antonio Valencia, who fell to the turf after being grabbed and pulled down by Nacho Monreal. At the time Mourinho appeared incensed with Andre Marriner's decision not to award a spot-kick, although after the match he refused to be drawn on whether or not the referee had made a glaring error.

"I don't want to speak about it," he said. "I have a very good feeling with Andre Marriner. He is the kind of referee that if he makes mistakes against my team, I know that there is no intention."

He added: "I don't want to say if it was a mistake or not because the referee is a good referee and he tried to do his best."