Chelsea defender admits Diego Costa ‘cheats’ after Arsenal win

Former Arsenal boss George Graham has warned Diego Costa he faces being targeted by officials after his indiscretions in Chelsea’s 2-0 win over the Gunners on Saturday.

Gabriel’s dismissal came in the aftermath of a bust-up between Costa and Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny in the visitors’ penalty area a minute earlier when Costa appeared to raise his arms and strike the Arsenal defender.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger also lashed out at Mike Dean’s decision to not send off Diego Costa despite showing a straight red to Gabriel for a sly kick on the striker.

“He can do what he wants and he stays on”.

That was five years ago, a time when Costa was still a nobody, but had the same hot blood running through him.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho insists John Terry is his go-to man despite benching the ageing Blues skipper for the 2-0 win over Arsenal.

Arsenal have not beaten Chelsea in seven league attempts but Mourinho insists he does not know why he has such a hold over Wenger as his side look to recover from their poor start to the Premier League season.

“We have no time to dwell, but that is a good thing, really, and we can bounce back as much as we can”. “I understand what the club invested in me”.

“If you want to speak about Diego Costa with me it’s just to say he played like he has to play, and that’s why you have full stadiums, you sell for televisions all around the world for millions and millions, because the game has to be played like that”. I accept Gabriel shouldn’t react at all. We have to work hard every day in training. We behave in a fantastic way. “Tonight (Saturday), he has to cope with his defeat”.

“Each referee panel member will review the video footage independently of one another to determine whether they consider it a sending-off offence”.

When asked if the FA should take retrospective action, Wenger added: “That is the least they could do”.

That run-out at Walsall should be largely a formality – though Mourinho will surely use the opportunity to test a few lower order squad players, and young names from the Vitesse Arnhem Feeder Academy. The FA also charged both clubs for failure to control their players and particularly called up Gabriel Paulista for improper conduct.

Even if Maccabi were not the toughest of opponents, Chelsea now have their first home win, first clean sheet and face Arsenal as the only English winners in the Champions League group stage.