Diego Costa: Jose Mourinho Confirms Chelsea Striker 'Will Start Against Arsenal'

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has confirmed Diego Costa will feature in the London derby against Arsenal at the weekend despite concerns over the striker's injuries, while both Ramires and Didier Drogba will miss the game.

The Portuguese boss has insisted Costa is unable to play more than once within a seven-day period.

However, having played last weekend against Aston Villa, he risked the Spain striker during the Champions League victory over Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday 30 September and is set to use him again for the third match in a week against Arsenal.

Mourinho justified his decision by stating he would not save the striker so he would be in "perfect condition" to play for the national team, after Spain manager Vicente del Bosque's included Costa in his 23-man squad for the European Championship qualifiers against Luxembourg and Slovakia next week.

"My reaction [to the news that he is in the Spanish squad] is no reaction. I don't know [when Costa is going to be fully fit]. He will play against Arsenal," he said in the press conference ahead of the game on Sunday.

"I think it's too much [for him to play three games]. But he will do that because I'm not going to save him to be in perfect condition for the national team.

"If he has a problem playing against Arsenal, he has a problem playing for Chelsea. What happens after that in the 15 days is not for me, it's not my responsibility.

"I will have the consequences of that, like all the other coaches who have players in national teams."

Despite the injury concerns, Costa has scored eight goals for Chelsea in the Premier League, with the Blues at the top of the table having recorded five victories and one draw from their first six games.