Arsenal fans are a sensitive lot. They want to think their club is the best in the world, even though it hasn’t been the best in England in well over a decade. They want to think their club plays the prettiest football in the league, even though that torch has long-since been passed to Manchester City. They want to think their club reigns supreme in North London, but as of last season that is no longer the case. When things don’t go their way, they go on Arsenal Fan TV and bitch, moan, grumble, whine, criticize and scream Wenger out.
Heading into the North London Derby against arch rival Tottenham, Gooners are already complaining. The Premier League announced Monday referee Mike Dean would be officiating the Arsenal vs. Tottenham match on Saturday. Gunners fans were not pleased, given the poor record Arsenal has in matches officiated by Dean.
Mike Dean - chosen to referee our game against his club Spurs.
2 years ago - 106,000 signed a petition to stop him taking our games - what happened to that?
If anyone says that there's no agenda - then please explain pic.twitter.com/kopDQzBV06— One Arsene Wenger (@everyonetalks21) November 13, 2017
Referee Mike Dean really doesn't like @Arsenal very much - graphical proof! pic.twitter.com/FlWH0vls1F
— John (@John_AFC_Gooner) November 13, 2017
Mike Dean preparing for the North London Derby this weekend... pic.twitter.com/2aPfD71rhJ
— ODDSbible (@ODDSbible) November 13, 2017
Mike Dean will referee the North London derby this weekend.
Here's how Tottenham are predicted to line up... pic.twitter.com/NCoJyfxc6f— Footy Accumulators (@FootyAccums) November 14, 2017
Last week
Arsene: PL referees are continuously making bad decisions.This week@Fa : we have to punish Arsene and Arsenal. Let's give him Mike Dean.— IslingtonGoonerAFC (@Born_a_gooner) November 13, 2017
Mike Dean when Kane scores an offside goal but the assistant referee flags it as offside. pic.twitter.com/z0ajCwXxa5
— P™ (@Cechque) November 14, 2017
Mike Dean appointed for the NLD. Love people blaming a ref before the game has even started. Always great fun.
— S (@wood10_) November 13, 2017
Dean is a bit of an eccentric referee, which has not won him many fans in the red half of North London. He’s twice been caught “celebrating” Tottenham goals in bizarre fashion, including one scored against Arsenal.
Mike Dean appointed to referee Arsenal x Tottenham this week. Here he is celebrating a Tottenham goal against Arsenal... https://t.co/LfY3qVnZIE
— Ahmed (@Ahmed91Gooner) November 13, 2017
Mike Dean has been given this weekend's north London derby...
Remember the time he celebrated Spurs scoring at White Hart Lane?https://t.co/r83Mp1xKTK— HLTCO (@HLTCO) November 13, 2017
Some Tottenham fans were also worried about the appointment, but they were mostly drowned out by the Arsenal tweets about Dean.
Mike dean will purposely give descions to Arsenal because idiots constantly say he's a Spurs fan so he's trying the last few games to be completely agaisnt us
— Addicted To Spurs (@addicted_spurs) November 13, 2017
Arsenal hasn’t lost at home to Tottenham since 2010, Arsene Wenger’s only home defeat to the Spurs. However, the Gunners have yet to beat a Mauricio Pochettino-coached Tottenham team outside of a meaningless League Cup match in 2015.
Mike Dean will be the center of attention until the match kicks off, but chances are after the 90 minutes are up Arsenal fans will be back to yelling Wenger In/Out and either praising Alexis Sanchez’s commitment or denouncing Mesut Ozil’s lack of effort.
The weird and wonderful world of Mike Dean. pic.twitter.com/h9gPHhixu2
— Football Funnys (@FootballFunnys) November 16, 2017