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Arsene Wenger urged the FA to serve a three-match ban on Diego Costa and hit out at 'naïve' referee Mike Dean after the Chelsea striker was pivotal in the Premier League champions 2-0 win over Arsenal.

Wenger was furious after Costa got away with slapping Laurent Koscielny in the face and body checking him to the floor in a clash just before half time which eventually ended in Arsenal defender Gabriel being sent off for retaliating to Costa's antics with a back heeled kick at the striker.

And whilst Wenger acknowledged that Gabriel deserved to go, he said that weak refereeing was allowing Costa free rein in the Premier League and said he was perplexed by the performance of Mike Dean.

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Arsene Wenger has demanded the FA to sanction Chelsea striker Diego Costa with a three-match ban

Costa appeared to lash out at Arsenal duo Laurent Koscielny and Gabriel which led to the latter being sent off

Costa appeared to strike Koscielny in the face as they grappled in the box during Chelsea's 2-0 win

Koscielny and Petr Cech hold Gabriel back after he approached Costa following the incident

Costa (left) and Gabriel were both booked by referee Mike Dean following the initial confrontation

Clearly irked, Gabriel flicked his boot at Costa in full view of referee Dean during Saturday's lunchtime kick off

Arsenal boss Wenger (left) insists Costa should have been sent off for his part in the incident too

The FA may now look at Costa's part in the sending off and if Dean accepts he didn't see the incidents, the Spain international could yet receive a three-match ban, similar to trial by TV he suffered last season after stamping on Emre Can in the Capital One Cup semi final last year, which also resulted in a ban on review.

Wenger said: 'That is the least they can do. But he will do the same again next week and the week after and he always gets away with it.

'He can do what he wants and he stays on. Everyone else that responds to him has to be sent off. It's unacceptable. If you look at the pictures and what he does to Koscielny before: he pushes him down and hits him in the face.

'He always gets away with it. Honestly, it is surprising. I don't understand Mike Dean's decision at all. Not on the sending off but why does Diego Costa stay on the pitch and Gabriel is sent off? I accept Gabriel shouldn't react at all. But for me, he is always provoking and also uses the naivety of Mike Dean in this game.'

Before the game there was brief cessation of hostilities as Jose Mourinho sought out Wenger at the end of the players' tunnel to ensure they shook hands. But by the end of the match, the usual enmity had returned.

Responding to Wenger's complaints, Mourinho said: 'I played against Arsenal, 12, 15, or 18 times now and only once he didn't moan. And that day we lost the game, we lost the Cup. It was not good for us. But we behaved in a fantastic way: no excuses; not crying; not moaning. I have to cope with my defeats. Tonight [Saturday night], he has to cope with his defeat.'

Wenger was equally scathing of referee Dean's performance - describing it as naive 

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho believes Arsene Wenger should accept the defeat without moaning

When Wenger was asked whether Costa had exploited his own players' naivety as well, Wenger said: 'Yes, as well my players. But Koscielny has no choice. Gabriel is guilty for getting involved and should not have responded at all. But look at the pictures of Koscielny and Costa. It tells you a lot on slow motion and is surprising.

'Before the cross comes in he hits him. We expect that kind of game but you expect the referee to make the right decisions. I don't know deny Gabriel gets sent off – he deserves it if he deserves it. Although he goes down from very little. But he should not have done it and deserves a red card.

'For me it is nothing to do with strength, it is about making the right decisions, that is all you want. They are professional people and just have to make the right decisions.

'I don't want to judge Mike Dean overall but in this game it was surprising that Costa got away with what he did. You go into half-time with a red card and he stays on the pitch.'

Mourinho secures handshake from Wenger after waiting for him at the end of the tunnel before kick-off

Wenger makes his way down the tunnel without shaking hands as Mourinho congratulates his team at full-time