Costa scored the decisive goal in Chelsea’s 1-0 win at Arsenal on Sunday, not long after being tripped by Per Mertesacker, who was sent off after 18 minutes.
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Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has defended the decision to make Theo Walcott the captain for Sunday’s clash against Chelsea, after the Gunners fell to a narrow defeat at the Emirates, the London Evening Standard reports.
Mertesacker dived in and took down Costa.
“We can not influence the decision of the referee, Costa got two players off in two games for our side, so he is clever”.
Questions were asked of how much contact Mertesacker made with the striker as Costa fell to the ground theatrically.
Costa had goaded Gabriel into kicking out at him in September’s reverse fixture, earning the Arsenal centre-back a red card, and Wenger told a TV interviewer: “He has got two (Arsenal) players sent off this season”.
His fellow countryman Diego Costa got the only goal of the game to give Chelsea the bragging rights, with Per Mertesacker’s early dismissal helping send the points back to west London.
“I’d have to watch it again”. I don’t know. It is a fact, without accusing him of anything.
Arsenal dropped from first to third place this weekend, behind leader Leicester and Manchester City, although there are 45 points still to play for.
“I thought we should’ve come out with the game with at least a 1-1 even though we were down to ten men. But when the captain is saying that I will follow my captain”. “It’s a shame to put such an energy into a game and come away without the point. Despite the disappointing result, we should have given more belief to our game by that performance”.
“All we can do is keep our focus and fight”.
Wenger’s decision to take off Olivier Giroud for bringing on Gabriel Paulista after Per’s sending off was another decision that swayed the game in Chelsea’ favor.
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“I like to see them play, but our credit was not to have them play”, he added.
