All fired up: Diego Costa orchestrates victory for Blues as Arsene Wenger fumes
Nine-man Arsenal suffer bitter defeat as manager sees red over Chelsea striker instigating clash with Koscielny and Gabriel, who was sent off
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger accused referee Mike Dean of "weakness" for failing to send off Chelsea striker Diego Costa in his side's 2-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge yesterday.
Costa clashed with both Arsenal centre-backs late in the second half, twice lashing out at Laurent Koscielny with his hand and then exchanging words with Gabriel Paulista.
After Costa and Gabriel were both booked, the Arsenal man was sent off for kicking out at the Chelsea striker, but Wenger felt that Costa should have been sent off for his role as instigator.
Man of the match for sure was Diego Costa. He brought everything to the game
"I would not like to be Mike Dean tonight," Wenger told BT Sport. "Costa twice should be sent off. He hits him [Koscielny] in the face on purpose.
"In every game, he has aggravation and he gets away with it because of the weakness of the referee. We knew before the game he is only looking at that. Gabriel should not have responded at all, but the two sending-offs for us and Costa staying on the pitch is a shame."
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho refused to be drawn on Gabriel's dismissal, but praised Costa for his performance.
"I don't have a view on the sending off," said the Portuguese. "Man of the match for sure was Diego Costa. He brought everything to the game."