The pair's spat during Chelsea's 2-0 victory over Arsenal on Saturday led to the Gunners defender receiving his marching orders
Maybe Gabriel's spat with Diego Costa during Chelsea's victory over Arsenal shouldn't have been a huge surprise - given this footage from the pair's clash in the 2013/14 La Liga season.
During a game between Villareal and Atletico Madrid in that season, Costa appeared to elbow Gabriel, who went down theatrically.
Their battle continued on Saturday, and ended with the Gunners defender being sent for an early bath by referee Mike Dean.
Costa had initially clashed with Gabriel's central defensive partner Laurent Koscielny, and was seemingly lucky to stay on the field himself, as he appeared to push both hands into the face of the Frenchman.
Gabriel stepped in, and the pair exchanged pushes, before they were both booked by Dean.
In pictures: Chelsea 2-0 Arsenal
As they retreated to the halfway line, Costa had a word in the ear of Gabriel, which led to him kicking out, and his subsequent red card.
Chelsea made their numerical advantage count in the second half, as goals from Kurt Zouma and Eden Hazard, plus another red card for Santi Cazorla, gave them a 2-0 victory.
After the game, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger slammed the referee's display as 'weak', and said Costa should have been sent off.
"I would not like to be Mike Dean tonight," said Wenger after the game. "Costa twice should be sent off. He hits him [Koscielny] in the face on purpose.
"In every game he has aggravation and he gets away with it because of the weakness of the referee. We knew before the game he is only looking at that.
"Gabriel should not have responded at all but the two sending offs for us and Costa staying on the pitch is a shame."
Sign up here with your email
ConversionConversion EmoticonEmoticon