Arsene Wenger Slams Diego Costa, Mike Dean After Arsenal's Loss to Chelsea

Arsene Wenger slammed Diego Costa for his behaviour and histrionics in Chelsea's 2-0 win over Arsenal on Saturday, with the Frenchman claiming the striker should have been red-carded by referee Mike Dean.

Costa was involved in the key incident of the game, late in the first half, as he provoked a reaction from Gabriel Paulista that saw the Gunner sent off. 

Wenger was clear in his assessment after the match, criticising the Blues player and match official on BT Sport (h/t Arash Hekmat of the Mirror):

"

I would not like to be Mike Dean tonight. Costa twice should be sent off. He hits him in the face in purpose. In every game he has aggravation and he gets away with it because of the weakness of the referee. We knew before the game he is only looking at that. Gabriel should not have responded at all but the two sending offs for us and Costa staying on the pitch is a shame.

"

Alastair Grant/Associated Press

The Gunners laboured to defeat after Dean sent off both Gabriel and Santi Cazorla, leaving Arsenal ill-equipped against a Chelsea team that was more in control of their faculties than in previous weeks. 

Goals from Kurt Zouma and Eden Hazard were enough for the Stamford Bridge club to claim the points and kick-start their season after a difficult opening. 

Costa's influence was key on Saturday, as the Spain striker bustled and confronted the Arsenal back four. The player was twice involved in skirmishes during the contest. When Gabriel flicked his boot out at him, referee Dean was left with no choice. 

Alastair Grant/Associated Press

BT Sport's Rio Ferdinand also criticised Costa for his questionable conduct on Saturday, labelling him a liability to coach Jose Mourinho (via Elliott Bretland of the MailOnline): "Costa acts like a petulant baby. If anything happens it's like the end of the world. He's a liability, a ticking time bomb. He's a fantastic player, but he has to get back to playing football."

However, Mourinho was in no mood to see his striker berated after the game and firmly pointed the finger back in the direction of Wenger and Arsenal, as quoted by Eurosport UK:

Despite losing Gabriel and Cazorla, it was a tame effort from Arsenal, even though they pushed hard in the first half. Theo Walcott found it difficult to stay onside as he played up front, and Chelsea looked comfortable in possession.

Mourinho will be much happier by what he witnessed from his side in a potentially difficult game, and this looked more like the Premier League champions of last season.

Wenger will be disappointed Costa did not see red—which would have undoubtedly swung the match—but his players need to keep their own discipline before they challenge the behaviour of opponents.