The Gunners have taken part in some pretty breathtaking matches this year, keeping us on the edge of our seats and gasping throughout the 90 minutes.

This was not one of those matches.

A game that was bigged-up as much as a game can be, turned out to be a fairly flat affair as Jose “flowing counter-attacking football” Mourinho parked the Chelsea team bus in front of Petr Cech’s goal.

The sole entertainment from the game came from some questionable refereeing from Mike Dean, which should have resulted in a red card for John Obi Mikel and a penalty.

Among the “this is boring” and “there’s two hours of my life I want back” tweets, there was a fair bit of fan’s reaction…

Controversy

@Mike_Arsenal “Arteta would never play football ever again if his right leg was planted to the ground when Mikel came in like that.”

@Santrick7 “Mikel didn't even get a card. Either the Ref saw it & is admitting he's clueless, or he'll get a retrospective ban. My money's on neither.”

@TheBowMonster “Gary Neville making a mute point there. Yes both are off the ground, but Mikel plants his boot halfway up Arteta's shin. It's that simple.”

@forrestio “In my opinion Mikel's is a definite red card. Irrelevant whether he went for the ball or not, leg breaking challenge.”

@Ddallas886 “Dean was adjudged to have celebrated Spurs goal against Arsenal two seasons ago and ve denied Arsenal a penalty today”

@RyanOhRourke “fact is if it was your team you'd be screaming penalty”

@CintaArsenal “It is soul destroying when you think pricks like Mike Dean predetermine a game's outcome. What is the point of watching football?”

@LukeA1993 “That Mike Dean is one shady ref. Looks like one of them fellers who hits a midlife crisis & leaves his wife for a 1 legged Russian tranny”

@WhyAlwaysDean “No red for Mikel.. The ball was perfectly in the middle of them, identical challenge from both. Mike Dean is one of the best refs we have.”

@alvangurumnaan  “Let's stop blaming Mike Dean and the weather. Let's get shots on target, and into the damn net! #AFCvCFC”

@bauer7052 “Is it me or does mike dean come across very arrogant!!!!”

@goonerboyblog “Mike Dean wasn't the reason Oliver Giroud is the most average striker to start for Arsenal since fucking Baptista”

@DuranRap “Arsenal 0 Mike Dean 0”

@Tunde_J “Arsene Wenger must have forgotten that he has 3 subs tonight. #Arsenal”

@upsilon1 “That was one of d most boring football matches I have seen in my lifetime.”

@MigzVips “Chamakh and Bendtner would have done way more damage than Giroud tonight.”

Have your say on the controversial decisions and the overall outcome of the match below.

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Comments  

#5 #MAKOI The #Great 2013-12-25 22:07
Giroud is a deadwood and I prepare Mr. Bean to him. He can't do anything to the club, we have been patience and now it's time to consider a sharp and active striker who thinks he can be held responsible for any lose or draw should he missed or misused his chances. Giroud is not goals' material.
+3 #4 Phill 2013-12-23 22:44
Giroud is a great holding player. Against lesser teams he's really effective as he has time to hold it, play it to midfield who then have time to score. But against better teams he's ineffective. They know how to shut the midfield down, making Giroud's role useless. In these cases we need an attacking striker or poacher. Someone who will run at the defence, make chances from nothing.

Also disappointing to see no substitutions. Very bad call. I would have put money on Cazorla, Podolski or Flamini changing the game in our favour. Still waiting for a Podolski/Ozil combo...
#3 Andrew 2013-12-23 22:36
What Van Persie did in Arseanal, and what he did in MUtd?
#2 Yahyoukhan 2013-12-23 22:32
Arsenal 0 Chelsea+Mike Dean 0
#1 Dandakota 2013-12-23 22:26
Arsenal would remain pretender unless she buys a real striker in January! Giroud cannot win arsenal a trophy! Never....