The former Queens Park Rangers forward has backed himself to do Costa’s work in the Premier League against Newcastle United and Southampton in which the Spaniard will not be involved.
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Upon light of this news Gabriel can be expected to start against Tottenham Hotspurs in the Capital One Cup fixture on Wednesday night, but the 24-year old might still get punished for improper conduct.
The Spanish worldwide had denied the charge, which came after video evidence showed the striker walloping Arsenal’s Laurent Koscielny in the face during Chelsea’s controversial 1-0 win.
Chelsea will have to cope without its starting striker for the next three matches.
Arsenal defender Gabriel, 24, was sent off by referee Mike Dean for violent conduct after raising his leg and catching Spain global Costa at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
The Football Association has set a unsafe precedent by rescinding the red card given to Arsenal’s Gabriel, says Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho.
A statement on the club’s website reads: “We are extremely disappointed with the FA Regulatory Commission’s decision to suspend Diego Costa”. His defence will lean heavily on the fact that the red card ought not to have been given but the FA may deem that to be no excuse for his reaction.
On Tuesday, the FA went a step further by handing down a three-match ban for Costa’s hit to the face of Koscielny, not the tussle with Gabriel.
Costa remained on the pitch and Chelsea then overcame a nine man Arsenal, who also had Santi Cazorla sent off for picking up two yellow cards, with the help of a goal from defender Kurt Zouma.
West Ham lost that particular arbitration tribunal, but Chelsea are determined to take a similar course of action if the FA’s written reasons do not satisfy their grievances.
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All three must reply to the charges by 1700 GMT on Thursday.
