Arsenal are being linked with an annoying move for Diego Costa, a player who has, ridiculously, been called the ‘Granit Xhaka of strikers’.

Atletico Mineiro's Diego Costa celebrates with the trophy after his team won the 2021 Brazil Cup second leg final football match against Athletico Paranaense at the Arena da Baixada stadium in Curitiba, Brazil, on December 15, 2021. (Photo by Heuler Andrey / AFP) (Photo by HEULER ANDREY/AFP via Getty Images)
Atletico Mineiro’s Diego Costa celebrates with the trophy after his team won the 2021 Brazil Cup second leg final football match against Athletico Paranaense at the Arena da Baixada stadium in Curitiba, Brazil, on December 15, 2021. (Photo by Heuler Andrey / AFP) (Photo by HEULER ANDREY/AFP via Getty Images)

Look, let’s get one thing clear. I detest Diego Costa.

Cannot stand the man.

I never want to see him in an Arsenal shirt but, for some reason, possibly because he’s free and Arsenal need a striker, we are once again being linked with a move for him.

As I was reading around the news and gossip this morning, I was surprised to see Costa being called the ‘Granit Xhaka of strikers’.

Granit Xhaka is an idiot, but he’s not a loathsome human being.

Costa, now 33, is without a club after terminating his deal with Atletico Mineiro in Brazil.

He signed for them in the summer, after seven months without a club after his contract with Atletico Madrid was terminated.

That all followed problems at Chelsea.

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 27: Rob Holding of Arsenal and Diego Costa of Chelsea argue with referee Anthony Taylor during The Emirates FA Cup Final between Arsenal and Chelsea at Wembley Stadium on May 27, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 27: Rob Holding of Arsenal and Diego Costa of Chelsea argue with referee Anthony Taylor during The Emirates FA Cup Final between Arsenal and Chelsea at Wembley Stadium on May 27, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

He hardly seems like the type of ‘character’ Mikel Arteta would want in his dressing room.

Regardless, Arsenal are said to have made an informal approach for the forward.

In 2019, Costa was banned for eight games after he abused a referee, something Xhaka has yet to manage.

In total, he has picked up 11 red cards, five of which have been straight.

Xhaka has 13 red cards, six of which have been straight (five of which have come in an Arsenal shirt).