Mike Dean lays his cards on the table

There was no possible room for confusion today at the Man Utd vs Arsenal game. Mike Dean let the players know what he would and would not tolerate.


Dean was firmest on what are inaccurately called "professional fouls," when the kind of attacking play referees are supposed to encourage is disrupted with cynical trips that prevent promising attacks. These fouls were rewarded with yellow cards.
Dean handed out eight yellows, five to the home team. They had the desired effect on all the players with the exception of Arsenal's Jack Wilshere, who was first into the book and then didn't have the maturity not to carry out a similar offence in the second half and was shown the only red of the game. Dean had shown a good degree of patience with the young Wilshere, letting him off a bookable challenge on Robin van Persie.
Dean was spot in his decision to award Man Utd a penalty for handball that they missed and it was especially gladdening to see some cracking offside calls by the Assistants after three very poor calls in the Premier League last week.
An excellent and mature performance from Dean.