Champions Chelsea pulled out of their nosedive down the Premier League table when they won a bad-tempered London derby 2-0 against Arsenal, who finished with nine men at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
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After an uncharacteristically feeble start by Chelsea to its Premier League title defense, the return of Diego Costa’s fiery temperament was just what Jose Mourinho needed to rouse his under-performers against Arsenal. “He stays on and everyone else who responds to him has to be sent off. I think it is unacceptable”.
Gabriel Paulista wade into the scuffle and was shown a yellow card along with Costa.
“Dean will be disappointed that he missed the main incident between Costa and Koscielny – given the disciplinary action he took it is safe to assume that it occurred away from his view”.
But Mourinho revealed the player is still a much needed and trusted member of his team. Chelsea’s Cesc Fabregas helped separate Costa from Gabriel, but the two players still managed to trade a few childish slaps on the back. “We expected this kind of game, we were not surprised, but you expect the referee to make the right decision”. “We controlled the matches”, said the Chelsea boss. “I have to cope with my defeats, [Wenger] has to cope with his”.
Arsenal lost 2-0 to Chelsea this afternoon in one of the more controversial games between the two clubs. He always uses provocation, and he used the naivety of Mike Dean.
“Look at the pictures, it tells you a lot on slow motion”. So the game was all but over 12 minutes from time when Cazorla caught Fabregas on the ankle and joined Gabriel in the changing room. That’s why you have full stadiums and the game watched around the world by millions and millions. Twice he (Costa) should have been sent off.
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But for Mourinho, who left him on the pitch for 80 minutes before bringing on Loic Remy, Costa was Man of the Match as he brought everything to the match. Gabriel did something to Hazard which is allowed in rugby, not football. “He’s a fantastic player, but he has to get back to playing football”.
