Arsenal's players have been warned against taking Diego Costa's bait when Chelsea visit the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
Arsenal have picked up three red cards in past games against Chelsea and Diego Costa was at the heart of two of the Gunners’ dismissals. The victims in the two occasions were Gabriel and Per Mertesacker.
Arsene Wenger has told his squad to avoid confrontations with the hot-headed frontman and remain 'cold-blooded' after seeing Costa play a role in two of the three red cards his team have collected in the past two meetings between the sides.
Wenger, who has spoken to his players about the importance of discipline on Saturday evening, has called for calm heads as he looks for a first victory over the Blues since 2010.
When asked how his players should deal with Costa, he said: 'By being completely cold-blooded and just focusing on your game and not responding.Â
'Just try to annihilate his qualities and his game. You need to be committed but by respecting the rules of the game and not responding.'
In the corresponding clash at Stamford Bridge last term, Arsenal saw Gabriel sent off after squaring up to Costa before, at the Emirates, Per Mertesacker received his marching orders for bringing down the striker.Â
'Last year we were a bit unlucky to be down to 10 men at Chelsea because he was suspended after,' said Wenger, referring to the retrospective ban given to Costa for pushing Laurent Koscielny in the face prior to his fracas with Gabriel.
 ‘In the second game we deserved the red card because we were caught on a good run from him.'Of course, for the result tomorrow, it will be important the way we play football and the way we behave’.
‘Discipline and results are linked and you need to be committed but by respecting the rules.’
Other games of the weekend include:
Manchester United vs Leicester City, Liverpool Vs Hull City, Swansea City Vs Manchester City, Stoke City Vs Westbrom and Sunderland Vs Crystal Palace would complete the games for Saturday September 24.
On Sunday, West Ham would take on Southampton while Burnley faces off with Watford on Monday September 26.
Source: Mailonline
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