Former Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood has branded Chelsea striker Diego Costa a "serial cheat" who gets away with his style of play following the Gunners' Premier League loss at home to the Blues on Sunday.
Costa proved instrumental in Chelsea securing the double over their London rivals Arsenal this term after his run forwards in the 18th minute at the Emirates Stadium resulted in Per Mertesacker delivering a tackle that saw him receive a straight red card.
With Arsenal down to 10 men, Costa took advantage just minutes later when he then fired in Branislav Ivanovic's cross from the right to score the winner - and also secure the three points for the visitors that takes Chelsea into 13th place in the league standings.
Following the game, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger claimed Costa deliberately tried to get Mertesacker sent off while Chelsea's interim boss Guus Hiddink praised the Spain striker's fighting spirit.
But ex-Arsenal chairman Hill-Wood has criticised Costa for his actions on Sunday, saying referee Mark Clattenburg should have sent the 27-year-old, and not Mertesacker, off for diving.
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"He is a serial cheat and he gets away with it,” Hill-Wood told the Daily Star. "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."
He added: "I thought Arsene was very restrained because he must have been furious.
"He gets criticised or penalised by the FA if he says too much."
