Arsenal’s Arteta and Chelsea’s Maresca Have Past Grievances with the Man in the Middle
The Premier League has confirmed that referee Anthony Taylor will take charge of this weekend’s high-stakes London derby between Chelsea and Arsenal, an appointment that is sure to raise eyebrows in both dugouts.
Arsenal travels to Stamford Bridge for the Saturday afternoon kick-off aiming to extend their lead at the top of the table. Meanwhile, Chelsea, sitting in third, will be looking to close the six-point gap to their rivals.
The announcement of Taylor as the head official brings with it a wave of recent history. In January, the referee was at the center of a furious reaction from Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta after a contentious penalty decision.
During a match against Brighton, Taylor awarded a spot-kick against the Gunners when defender William Saliba, while attempting to clear the ball, accidentally headed a Brighton player. After a pause, Taylor pointed to the spot, leading to a Brighton equalizer and costing Arsenal two crucial points.
A visibly frustrated Arteta labeled the call “bizarre” in post-match interviews. Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, he said, “That means we have probably never seen it before.” He reiterated his disbelief to other broadcasters, stating, “I’ve never seen that in my life – and Saliba touches the ball.”
The history does not end with Arsenal. Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca also has a recent memory of Taylor, who sent him off during a dramatic match against Liverpool in October. Maresca received a second yellow card for leaving his technical area to celebrate a last-minute winning goal with his players. The dismissal resulted in a one-match touchline ban and an £8,000 fine for the Blues’ boss.
Taylor will be assisted by Gary Beswick and Adam Nunn at Stamford Bridge, with Sam Barrott serving as the fourth official. The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) duties will be handled by John Brooks, assisted by Eddie Smart.
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