Arsenal fans are over the moon after the EPL referees body (PGMOL) appointed Anthony Taylor to officiate Sunday’s blockbuster clash against nemesis Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal have an impressive record in Premier League home games officiated by Taylor. Of the 21 EPL games officiated by the Manchester-born referee, the Gunners have won a resounding 14, drawing five and only losing a paltry two.
The 44-year-old no-nonsense referee was the man of the whistle when Eddie Nketiah flicked in a late goal to hand Arsenal a 3-2 win over United when the two sides met last in January 2023 at the Emirates.
Prior to the win over United in January, the Community Shield champions had won all three matches officiated by Taylor at the Emirates. The matches were against Tottenham Hotspur, Leicester City and West Ham United.
The United family felt a pinch of Tylor’s tough stands on the pitch in their barren draw at home to Southampton at Old Trafford on March 22, 2023.
The referee handed their reliable midfielder Casemiro for a lash challenge on Carlos Alcaraz in the 35th minute but the Red Devils hung on for a point that extended their unbeaten run at Old Trafford to 22 games, then.
How do Arsenal and Man United compare going to Sunday’s clash?
Both Arsenal and Manchester United have played three games in the 2023/24 Premier League season with only United testing defeat.
The Gunners won their opener 2-1 at home to Nottingham Forest and picked up a priceless 1-0 win away to Crystal Palace in their second game despite being reduced to ten men.
In their third match last weekend, however, they conceded a late goal that condemned them to a 2-2 draw at home to Fulham.
Manchester United on the other hand have been scrappy and unconvincing. They controversially won their opener 1-0 against Wolves and got a 2-0 beating away to Tottenham before picking up a contested 3-2 comeback win against Nottingham Forest last weekend.
Arsenal are fifth on the Premier League log with seven points, while United are a point off in eighth.
Both Arsenal and United are grappling with injuries
Arsenal are grappling with an elongated injury list just like their arch-rivals. The Gunners are likely to be without their first-choice striker Gabriel Jesus who has been sidelined with a knee injury.
Others ruled out of the clash are fullback Jurrien Timber (knee Injury), striker Folarin Balogun (foot injury), and midfielder Albert-Mboyo Sambi Lokonga (muscular Injury).
Manchester United are likely to be without their new striker Rasmus Højlund who is nursing a back injury as well as defender Raphael Varane who was withdrawn in their win over Forest last weekend.
Other players out of the fold are Kobbie Mainoo, Luke Shaw, Amad Diallo, Tyrell Malacia, Tom Heaton and Mason Mount who are all on the sick bed.
