Mike Dean will referee Arsenal's opening Premier League fixture against Leicester City on Friday night, confirming the Gunners' worst fears.
Arsene Wenger's men have a poor record when it comes to the opening day of the season, reports football.london.
In the past seven years they've won just once, and even then that was in the dying embers of the game - a 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace in 2014/15.
The news of Dean's appointment, will only increase worries of another disappointing start to a campaign at the Emirates.
Arsenal fans have made no secret of their dislike of Dean over the years, and the team have struggled in the past with him as a referee, having failed to win in any game he had officiated in over two years prior to a 4-1 victory at Stoke City in the latter stages of 2016/17.
Dean has sent off an Arsenal player every five games on average since 2009, and the Gunners have won just 10 of their 29 away trips with him in the middle.
Arsenal started last season's Premier League campaign with a 4-3 home defeat to Liverpool and will be desperate to avoid suffering another home reverse against Craig Shakespeare's side as the two teams get the Premier League season up and running on Friday night.
The Premier League also announced that Simon Long and Darren Cann would be Dean's assistants for the fixture, while Lee Mason will be the fourth official at the Emirates Stadium.
The other referees for the first weekend of the Premier League:
Watford vs Liverpool: Anthony Taylor
Chelsea vs Burnley: Craig Pawson
Crystal Palace vs Huddersfield Town: Jon Moss
Everton vs Stoke City: Neil Swarbrick
Southampton vs Swansea City: Mike Jones
West Brom vs Bournemouth: Bobby Madley
Brighton vs Manchester City: Michael Oliver
Newcastle vs Tottenham: Andre Marriner
Manchester United vs West Ham: Martin Atkinson