Despite once being targeted by the Gunners, it can easily be said that Diego Costa is now public enemy number one at Arsenal.
The Spanish striker seems to find himself embroiled in controversy every time Chelsea lock horns with their London rivals, having been at the center of two sending offs for Arsenal, the most recent being that of Per Mertesacker.
The German center-back was given a straight red in Sunday’s 1-0 loss to the Blues after bringing down the former Atletico Madrid man near the penalty box, though replays appeared to show little, if any contact in the tackle.
Wenger slammed the 27-year-old after the game, and now former Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood has carried that trend, labeling Costa as a “serial cheat”.
Speaking to the Daily Star, Hill-Wood said: “He is a serial cheat and he gets away with it.
“I think he deliberately ran in front of Mertesacker, who hardly touched him.
“Yet Costa rolls around as if his legs have been cut off. Once the red card’s been shown, he’s suddenly perfectly alright again.
“That’s because there’s absolutely nothing wrong with him. There certainly wasn’t soon after when he scored that goal.
“Personally I think the referee should have sent him off for diving. It’s very annoying because to me it is blatant.”
Peter Hill-Wood also praised Le Prof for his handling of the situation, insisting that the 66-year-old boss had to restrain himself after seeing his side reduced to 10-men.
“I thought Arsene was very restrained because he must have been furious,” Hill-Wood continued to say.
“He gets criticised or penalised by the FA if he says too much.”
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