Gary Neville: 'Diego Costa ban harsh'

Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville has expressed his surprise at the length of Chelsea striker Diego Costa's ban for violent conduct in his side's match against Arsenal on Saturday.

The 26-year-old striker was handed a three match ban by the Football Association following incidents with Arsenal defenders Gabriel Paulista and Laurent Koscielny during the match, which Chelsea won 2-0.

Costa will be absent for his side's League Cup clash with Walsall tomorrow night, in addition to their upcoming Premier League games against Newcastle United and Southampton, but Neville wrote on Twitter that the striker's punishment is too harsh.

3 games for that. At worse it was two yellows = 1 game. Violent? No way..

— Gary Neville (@GNev2) September 22, 2015

Spanish striker Costa has scored two goals in seven appearances this season.