Andre Marriner will take charge of Arsenal v Crystal Palace on Sunday at the Emirates and Arsenal fans will be hoping that he offers a bit more protection than he did the last time he refereed an Arsenal game.

Marriner was the man in the middle when Arsenal travelled to Old Trafford in November. In that game he allowed Matteo Darmian free rein. The United man responded with at least three yellow card offences, only one of which was punished.

That is the only match that he’s had for Arsenal this season and he managed to issue three yellows to each side that day.

Marriner is, of course, the referee who sent off Kieran Gibbs when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was telling him that he had committed the foul.

He has taken charge of one Crystal Palace game this season – their 4-2 home defeat by Liverpool. He issued three yellows in that game, one to Palace and two to the visitors.

Arsenal v Crystal Palace, 4pm, Sunday, 1 January 2017

Referee: Andre Marriner
Assistants: S Beck, S Ledger
Fourth official: S Attwell