Wenger to avoid punishment for Mourinho clash
ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger is to avoid disciplinary action over his touchline skirmish with Chelsea boss and long-standing nemesis Jose Mourinho during Sunday’s Premier League defeat at Stamford Bridge.
Wenger pushed Mourinho as the two coaches reacted to a contentious tackle from Blues defender Gary Cahill on Gunners forward Alexis Sanchez during the first half of Chelsea’s 2-0 victory.
Neither he nor Mourinho are expected to be punished by the Football Association, however, as referee Martin Atkinson was deemed to have dealt with the matter at the time by warning both managers.
Wenger and Alan Pardew were each fined £10,000 for a dugout altercation at Upton Park in 2006, when the latter’s West Ham team pulled off a shock 1-0 win over their London rivals
Chelsea captain John Terry, meanwhile, expects his team to be marked men after setting the pace in the top flight by building a five-point lead just seven games into the season. “Teams are out to get us because we are at the top and playing well,” said Terry. “Clearly it [the league] is not over. Other teams have been in this position. It’s nice to have the lead but when you’re at the top everyone wants to shoot you down.”
Blues striker Diego Costa, who took his tally for the new campaign to nine with the second goal against Arsenal, insists he will not risk his fragile hamstrings for Spain if he feels at risk of injury.
“I’ve had some problems but it’s getting better,” he said, ahead of Euro 2016 qualifiers against Slovakia and Luxembourg. “I’ve already played three games in a week and the coach knows I carry some problems but I will treat them during the week. If I’m here and I’m injured then I don’t play because it would be worse.”