Arsene Wenger urged the FA to serve a three-match ban on Diego Costa and hit out at 'naïve' referee Mike Dean after the Chelsea striker was pivotal in the Premier League champions 2-0 win over Arsenal.
Wenger was furious after Costa got away with slapping Laurent Koscielny in the face and body checking him to the floor in a clash just before half time which eventually ended in Arsenal defender Gabriel being sent off for retaliating to Costa's antics with a back heeled kick at the striker.
And whilst Wenger acknowledged that Gabriel deserved to go, he said that weak refereeing was allowing Costa free rein in the Premier League and said he was perplexed by the performance of Mike Dean.
The FA may now look at Costa's part in the sending off and if Dean accepts he didn't see the incidents, the Spain international could yet receive a three-match ban, similar to trial by TV he suffered last season after stamping on Emre Can in the Capital One Cup semi final last year, which also resulted in a ban on review.
Wenger said: 'That is the least they can do. But he will do the same again next week and the week after and he always gets away with it.
'He can do what he wants and he stays on. Everyone else that responds to him has to be sent off. It's unacceptable. If you look at the pictures and what he does to Koscielny before: he pushes him down and hits him in the face.
'He always gets away with it. Honestly, it is surprising. I don't understand Mike Dean's decision at all. Not on the sending off but why does Diego Costa stay on the pitch and Gabriel is sent off? I accept Gabriel shouldn't react at all. But for me, he is always provoking and also uses the naivety of Mike Dean in this game.'
Before the game there was brief cessation of hostilities as Jose Mourinho sought out Wenger at the end of the players' tunnel to ensure they shook hands. But by the end of the match, the usual enmity had returned.
Responding to Wenger's complaints, Mourinho said: 'I played against Arsenal, 12, 15, or 18 times now and only once he didn't moan. And that day we lost the game, we lost the Cup. It was not good for us. But we behaved in a fantastic way: no excuses; not crying; not moaning. I have to cope with my defeats. Tonight [Saturday night], he has to cope with his defeat.'
culled from Daily Mail
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