DEAL WITH DIEGO!
Wenger warns Arsenal that Costa will come out fighting
ARSENE WENGER has warned his Arsenal defenders that Diego Costa will fancy a fight if the Chelsea firebrand wins his race to be fit for Sunday’s match.
Costa trained alone indoors yesterday as he continues his bid to recover from the bruised shin that forced him off against Everton. And after the forward’s starring role in the pantomime of Chelsea’s 2-0 win in the reverse fixture in September, Wenger wants his defenders to wise up.
Centre back Gabriel was sent off for kicking out at Costa at Stamford Bridge but his red card was promptly rescinded by the FA, who instead banned Costa for three matches.
Should the Spain forward return at the Emirates, all eyes will be on how Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker cope with his combative threat.
Wenger said: ‘We have to be prepared for a battle because Costa gives you a fight. After that, it’s down to the referee. It’s a difficult subject. We have to focus on our performance and forget a little bit about Costa.’
While Chelsea hope to have Costa and Eden Hazard back, Arsenal will be boosted by the return of two star men of their own. Wenger confirmed Mesut Ozil is fit after missing last week’s 0-0 draw at Stoke, while Alexis Sanchez should make the bench following eight weeks out.
Attention in west London has been focused off the pitch as much as on it this week, with Chelsea and Tottenham bidding to use Wembley. Arsenal’s rivals need temporary homes while they redevelop their grounds.
But Wenger says playing at the national stadium on a regular basis might be a hindrance, having suffered his own problems at Wembley. Arsenal played their Champions League matches there in 1998 and 1999, winning just two of six games.
‘ It was a nightmare,’ said Wenger. ‘In hindsight, it was the wrong decision. We didn’t feel at home. The pitch was bigger, the ground was different and for the English players it was something completely unusual. We were used to a tight pitch at Highbury. It was a disadvantage, for sure.’
Meanwhile, Petr Cech’s starring role in Arsenal’s title charge appears to have been lost on his sponsors adidas, who sent the goalkeeper’s gloves to Chelsea’s training ground this week.
Cech’s former club have forwarded the gloves and, asked if he would be checking them for signs of tampering, Wenger said: ‘He’s big enough to check his own gloves! I consider him now as a real Arsenal player who looks as if he’s been here forever.
‘He has adapted so well and integrated to team spirit.’