Former Tottenham Hotspur player Garth Crooks hit out at Mike Dean on Saturday afternoon after the referee sent Gabriel off at Stamford Bridge.

The BBC pundit was not pleased with the decision, which had come as a result of Chelsea’s clear ploy to try and get the defender off the pitch.

Dean had booked both players after an altercation but went back to give Gabriel a straight red when he flicked a leg out at the Chelsea striker. Clearly the yellow card had not been enough of a deterrent as they continued arguing, but a stronger referee would have told them to get on with the game having cautioned them both.

Never out of the headlines for very long, Dean didn’t hesitate to send Gabriel off and ruined what had been a tight match. Chelsea went on to comfortably win 2-0 with Arsenal receiving another red card – a soft one – and ending the game with nine men.

In all honesty, Crooks isn’t always right but he’s hit the nail on the head here. Referees, Dean in particular, look for excuses to send players off.