Gabriel Paulista Receives Red Card vs. Chelsea: Latest Details and Reaction

Arsenal defender Gabriel Paulista was issued a straight red card in the Gunners' clash with Chelsea on Saturday after kicking out at Diego Costa.

The Brazilian reacted angrily when the Chelsea forward and Laurent Koscielny locked horns after some grappling in the box.

While Gabriel should have known better, it's Costa who deserved to be given his marching orders.

Replays showed the Spaniard both elbowed and slapped Koscielny prior to Gabriel's reaction—which was just the reaction he was hoping for, as Coral noted:

ESPN's Miguel Delaney summed it up nicely, too, saying Costa's plan worked perfectly:

The Chelsea striker has been getting away with this kind of thing all season, though, and Saturday's referee, Mike Dean, was just the latest to fall for his behaviour.

Aggression is part of Costa's game, sure, but you would think referees would start clamping down on what he does at times. Former England striker Gary Lineker commented on the Chelsea man's style of play:

Arsenal fans, however, didn't share Lineker's jovial take on the situation, with Piers Morgan among many to denounce Costa's devious tactics:

Arsenal now have a mountain to climb with 10 men, as the London bragging rights look like they are going to Chelsea and Jose Mourinho yet again, however unfair that may be.