Arsenal FC manager Arsene Wenger expressed his dissatisfaction with the FA ruling wherein the red card against Gunners’ defender Gabriel was rescinded, while Chelsea FC striker Diego Costa was handed a three match ban.
The Frenchman insisted that the ruling only helped repair ‘five per cent’ of the damage done to his side in the 2-0 loss to Chelsea FC, when match referee Mike Dean gave these contentious decisions.
In the 43rd minute of the clash, Diego Costa was involved in an altercation with Laurent Koscielny and was seen scratching and slapping the French defender. Arsenal FC defender Gabriel intervened and in the aftermath of the event was shown a straight red card as Mike Dean assumed that the defender had kicked out at Costa based on the Spaniard’s reaction. The striker miraculously escaped a red card then for his involvement in the incident.
The FA released a statement confirming that Gabriel’s red card was rescinded and banned Diego Costa for his act of violence. However, the Gunners had to contest the match with 10 men on the pitch from the 45th minute till Santi Cazorla was sent off in the 79th minute.
Instead of us playing 11 against 10, we played 10 against 11 – Arsene Wenger .
Speaking after Arsenal FC’s 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur in the 3rd round of Capital One Cup, as quoted by the club’s official website, Wenger said:
“That just shows that they decided after the game what should have been decided during the game and they repair five per cent of the damage that has been done to us. Instead of us playing 11 against 10, we played 10 against 11.”
The Frenchman also expressed his anger at the poor officiating during the clash against Chelsea FC, but refused to comment further on the FA’s decision.
“Not to us. It does not help us too much. On the day I watched the game again. It is better I dona t talk too much because it was really surprising in this game that some incidents were handled very lightly and not seriously and it is better I dona t talk too much as Ia m still angry about it. One or two situations in the game are difficult to understand when you watch it again.”
Wenger also insisted that he would not point out some of the other contentious decisions to the FA, reiterating that in his line of work sometimes he has to ‘swallow things’.
“No, I think Ia m in a job where I have to swallow things that are not right but I have just got to focus on the next game.”
The Frenchman expressed no surprise that controversial forward Diego Costa was handed a three game ban.