Diego Costa might have duped the match official, but Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was less than convinced that Per Mertesacker deserved a red card in the opening stages of Chelsea's narrow 1-0 victory at the Emirates Stadium
Wenger blamed the Chelsea striker for Mertesacker's sending off before the match was 20 minutes old, saying Costa is "clever" after managing to do the same during the previous meeting earlier in the season when his antics got defender Gabriel Paulista removed from September's match.
"(The ref) had the choice but he made the decision, I cannot influence the decision," Wenger told reporters. "I think we coped well and got on with our job and our focus. We cannot influence the decision of the referee - Costa got two players sent off now. He's clever.
"Yes of course. He got Mertesacker sent off - did he touch him or not, I need to watch it again. I don't accuse him of anything, it's just what happened."
Referee Mark Clattenburg produced a red card in the moments after Mertesacker appeared to bring Costa down as the Spanish international was sent through without a defender to beat. Replays, however, revealed little contact between the two players.
The impact of losing such a vital match, according to Wenger, goes beyond the fact that Arsenal missed out on a chance to maintain its place atop the Premier League table.
"I think the points and emotional damage is there but the points is more important than emotional damage," he said. "It will be tight to the very end and there will be many teams involved in it."
Costa was punished by the Football Association after his deceitful actions in September earned him a three-match ban, but isn't expected to be disciplined this time around.
