Arsenal will face Manchester City in the Premier League this weekend and the referee for the fixture has been confirmed
The Premier League have confirmed the referee for Arsenal’s top-of-the-table clash against Manchester City for this weekend. The Gunners go into the clash at the Etihad Stadium looking to move a step closer to securing a long-awaited league title.
Mikel Arteta’s side were handed a blow to their Premier League title hopes as they were beaten by Bournemouth, which was followed by a convincing victory for City over Chelsea a day later.
Arsenal now have a six-point cushion at the top of the Premier League table but have played a game more than City, with this weekend’s fixture vital to the outcome of the title race.
Ahead of the fixture, the Premier League have confirmed that Anthony Taylor will be the referee for the clash between Arsenal and City at the Etihad.
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Taylor will have Gary Beswick and Ian Hussin as the assistant referees, while John Brooks will be on VAR for the fixture.
Taylor has taken charge of three Arsenal matches in the Premier League this season, but the Gunners have only emerged victorious on one occasion, which came in the 1-0 victory away at Fulham back in October.
The last two games have seen Taylor take charge of Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea in November and the goalless draw at home to Liverpool in January.
The stalemate at the Emirates Stadium with Liverpool was the last time that Taylor has taken charge of an Arsenal match in the Premier League this season.
Taylor is from Greater Manchester, and the 47-year-old’s appointment for City and Manchester United fixtures has been seen as controversial in the past.
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However, former Premier League referee Graham Scott has explained that Taylor has no bias towards either Manchester club, due to being a fan of non-league club Altrincham.
“Eyebrows are sometimes raised when he is appointed to a match involving either of the Manchester giants, given he lives within a few miles of both grounds,” Scott told The Athletic.
“But his support for his home-town club Altrincham is genuine, not convenient, and he has no allegiance to either City or United.”
Altrincham president Grahame Rowley has also previously outlined how Taylor is a fan of the non-league club.
“Anthony has always been an Altrincham fan,” Rowley told The Athletic back in 2023. “Even now, he gets a season ticket every year, despite the fact he can’t go to all the matches.
“People around here always ask if you’re a Red or a Blue. He’s actually a great advocate for non-League football and should be praised, not criticised.”
