DISTRAUGHT Arsenal fans cried “cancel the season” after discovering who will ref their upcoming derby against Tottenham.
Mikel Arteta’s man head into the clash with a number of major absences following their 1-1 draw with Brighton.
Declan Rice was sent off in that game, meaning he will miss the Spurs encounter through suspension.
New boy Mikel Merino is out for two months with a freak shoulder injury.
Captain Martin Odegaard has become the latest casualty after turning his ankle while playing for Norway.
There’s further concerns at the back too, with Riccardo Calafiori forced off for Italy.
And Arteta could be forced to cobble together a new-look XI which may feature Raheem Sterling.
However, some Arsenal fans reckon it doesn’t matter who takes to the field on Sunday.
That’s because referee Jarred Gillett was confirmed as the main official for the occasion.
Arsenal have a history with Gillett, who took charge of their controversial 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa last season.
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John McGinn scored the only goal in December’s encounter between the two sides.
But Arsenal felt they were hard done by, with Gillett refusing to award a penalty for a foul by Douglas Luiz on Gabriel Jesus in Villa’s box.
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With just moments of the game remaining, Kai Havertz then bundled home a timely equaliser at Villa Park.
Yet his effort was immediately chalked off by Gillett for handball.
Replays showed the ball had ricocheted off both Havertz and Cash in a frenzied bundle.
But VAR decided not to intervene and stood by Gillett’s initial call.
Arteta was left raging at the final whistle, saying: “Clear and obvious, clear and obvious.
“That’s what I mean. That’s my opinion, that’s all I can say.”
And Arsenal fans are now bracing themselves to be on the receiving end of more questionable calls.
One said: “Cancel the season.”
Another declared: “This is a Gabriel red card and a Spurs penalty.”
One noted: “Are you f***ing kidding me?”
Another added: “I think we are finished for Sunday.”
