Manchester United and Arsenal were embroiled in a succession of thrilling Premier League title races in what must now be considered the early days.
Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger were two of the longest-serving Premier League managers and traded blows at the top for years as Man United and Arsenal tangled for supremacy.
Mike Dean was a bad omen for Arsenal in the Wenger years
The truth wasnt so black and white. Wenger was no stranger to a run-in on the touchline and former referee Mike Dean has revealed that the two big dogs of Premier League management werent quite as expected when it came to interacting with officials.
There was a bit of a myth about Sir Alex Ferguson and how he used to come in and batter the refs all the time he never, revealed Dean on The Overlap Fan Debate, brought to you by Sky Bet.
Hed say he did for the TV but he hardly ever came in the dressing room. But the way he spoke about it on the TV made it look like he did come in, but they [Wenger and Ferguson] were like chalk and cheese.
I never got on with Arsene Wenger. I dont know what it was I dont know whether it was because every time I refereed their game, they lost! Every time I went to Arsenal, it just didnt feel right.
Dean was and is regarded as something of a character in his own right and wasnt the kind of referee who wanted to stay out of the headlines. If his sources are reliable he spent some time squatting in Wengers mind too.
I spoke to a few people who used to work there who have now retired and they said as soon as the fixtures came out on the Monday and they knew I was refereeing, straight away he was like, We have no chance. He was the hardest one.
The Tranmere Rovers supporter, now 57, refereed 560 Premier League matches between 2000 and 2022, taking charge of an Arsenal win over Coventry City in his second game in charge.
Indeed, the Gunners won their first nine Premier League matches officiated by Dean and didnt lose one until November 2006.
Wenger, who is ranked at no.4 in FourFourTwo's list of the best Premier League managers ever, oversaw a revolution in Arsenals fortunes, winning the Premier League three times including one glorious invincible season. United finished second, third and third in those years and the rivalry between the bosses was never short of drama.
Arsenal and Man United meet again in January. Referee to be confirmed.
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