Diego Costa suspension creates problem for Chelsea that won't go away

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 19: Diego Costa of Chelsea is shown a yellow card by referee Mike Dean during the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and Arsenal at Stamford Bridge on September 19, 2015 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)

Diego Costa doesn’t belong in the Premier League.

Long considered the most physical and aggressive league in Europe, Costa plays beyond the acceptable modern day Premier League levels in both those categories. He instigates conflict, confronts opponents and looks for a fight at every occasion. If he played in England in the 1980s or even the 1990s, Costa would have no trouble staying on the pitch.
In 2015, Costa now has a target on his back, similar to Luis Suarez before he left for La Liga in 2014. In Spain, the big clubs and the big players seemingly get away with more than they do in other leagues.

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The English FA’s decision to retroactively ban Costa three matches confirms that the player will now become a person of interest and, thus, likely a repeat offender. Sadly, his unique fighting style of play is precisely why Chelsea bought the striker from Atletico Madrid in 2014. Add in that Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho lauded his striker’s style of play after last Saturday's 2-0 victory over Arsenal, and Costa’s return from suspension should feature the 26-year-old forward back to pushing, shoving and confronting opponents.
Maybe he’ll lay off hitting defenders in the face, but one would find it tough to believe Costa is in full control of his actions when he’s on the pitch. To be honest, he looks fully mad for 90 minutes of nearly every match, and that edginess is precisely what makes Costa special. Arsenal lacked that streak of madness on the weekend, and the Gunners looked rattled when confronted by a genuine lunatic. After the 2-0 defeat to Chelsea, analysts pointed to Costa’s brutish intimidation tactics as the difference between the two sides.
A few days later, the FA turned Chelsea’s hero into the Premier League’s villain. Luckily for Chelsea, though, the ban could not come at a better time.
A Capital One Cup game at Walsall probably would have been the right time to rest the bruising forward anyhow. Then, facing a Newcastle side that has lost three Premier League matches in a row should not require Costa’s class in front of goal. Loic Remy and Radamel Falcao should be able to manage three points against a team that has only secured two points after six rounds. Newcastle is only ahead of Sunderland on goal differential, as both participants in the Tyne-Wear derby make up the foot of the Premier League table.
Chelsea will then have Costa fresh and available for a trip to Porto in the Champions League before the striker serves the final match of his suspension against Southampton at Stamford Bridge. Southampton has yet to win away from home this season with only one win in six Premier League games overall.

Although Costa's suspension may not have been welcomed news for the Blues and Mourinho will surely politicize the decision by discussing a campaign against Chelsea, Costa picked a good time to miss three games. This time, the suspension should not hurt the Blues. Unfortunately, the way Costa plays and the manner in which he was retroactively punished almost guarantees that there will be a next time.