Arsenal 2 Tottenham 0: Eric Dier says 'everyone can see' referee Mike Dean got key goal decision wrong

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Tom Doyle18 November 2017

Eric Dier pointed the finger of blame at referee Mike Dean after Tottenham lost Saturday's north London derby 2-0 to Arsenal.

Mauricio Pochettino's side were well below-par at the Emirates Stadium as Arsenal took a two-goal lead in the first half, though Spurs felt hard done by by a number of decisions made by Dean.

The referee decided not to book Granit Xhaka for bodychecking Davinson Sanchez with the scores level after 23 minutes, and the Arsenal midfielder was booked nine minutes later for another rough tackle on Dele Alli.

Sanchez was adjudged to have fouled Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez despite protests from Spurs players, and Shkodran Mustafi rose home to head in the free-kick despite replays showing the defender appeared to be marginally offside.

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Mauricio Pochettino was left frustrated by the decision as Spurs went on to lose the derby as Sanchez struck another for Arsenal to further dent Spurs' title ambitions.

Dier told BBC Sport after the game: "There is so much on the line, for a goal to be decided in the manner it was is very disappointing.

"It changed the game.

"I don't want to get in trouble but everyone can see it.

"If that's a foul then soon we won't be able to touch each other. Nobody wants that.

"But there can be no excuses."