Battle won but Chelsea may soon count Costa Diego’s war games

TALK about splitting opinion. Chelsea’s Diego Costa was the key man in a pivotal London derby that has effectively kick-started Chelsea’s season and all but ended Arsenal’s. But he received as much criticism as he did praise afterwards and could today discover if he faces FA disciplinary action.

The Brazil-born Spanish international plays his football on the edge; testing the patience of referees and opponents in equal measure. To Chelsea fans he is already a hero, to many others he is an odious pest and to Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger he is an enemy to all he loves about football.

Most importantly, perhaps, in Chelsea’s latest comprehensive victory over Arsenal he was a winner. Like Didier Drogba did before him, his sheer physicality and aggression is difficult for Arsenal to cope with. Unlike Drogba, however, he likes to send opponents tumbling more than going down himself. His fellow countryman Gabriel took such an exception to his behaviour in this match, he got himself sent off for rising to the bait by kicking out and on that one incident the game turned. For the second time in a few days Arsenal showed they are no longer a match for opposition when they are down to ten men. Wenger is still yet to record a win over Mourinho in a competitive match and this performance showed Arsenal are a long way from being title contenders. Chelsea, however, could well go the distance again as they bid to retain the Premier League.