Jon Moss is a referee who needs no introduction to most football fans and is the man who will be in charge of Arsenal’s game against crystal palace on Sunday.

Granit Xhaka
English referee Jonathan Moss (L) gestures to Arsenal’s Swiss midfielder Granit Xhaka after he makes a challenge on Burnley’s Belgian midfielder Steven Defour during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Burnley at the Emirates Stadium in London on January 22, 2017. / AFP / Ian KINGTON 

Jon Moss will probably always be remembered by Arsenal fans as the ref who sent Granit Xhaka off for an offence that has never been punished since. If that wasn’t bad enough, he then sent Granit Xhaka off in the next Arsenal match he refereed.

It’s easy to get caught up in narratives of bias but, the truth is, like many of the referees in the Premier League, Jon Moss is simply not up to standard.

While referees are expected to meet certain fitness standards, I don’t think it is unreasonable to question the adequacy of those if officials the shape of Jon Moss can be allowed to take charge of a sport that involves elite athletes at the top of their game.

Leaving aside his inability to get around the pitch in a timely and non-breathless fashion, Moss has taken charge of 24 games this season, issuing 82 yellows and five reds, significantly fewer than Mike Dean who has managed to flash 111 yellows and 10 reds in just one game more than Moss. Craig Pawson and Andre Marriner, who have both refereed 24 games this season, have 85 and 68 yellows and five and three reds respectively.

Moss has taken charge of five Arsenal games this season and has issued 18 yellows and 0 reds in total. 10 of those yellows went to Arsenal players while their opposition received 8. He has booked two Arsenal players in every game he’s reffed this season.

For Crystal Palace, he has only been in charge twice – their 1-0 defeat at home to Tottenham and their 4-3 defeat away at Liverpool. In those games, he issued a total of four yellows and one red. 50% of the yellows went to Palace with the red going to Liverpool for two yellows.

Looking through his record this season it is remarkable to see how even-handed he is with his cards. Only eight of his games saw one side receive two or more cards more than their opponents.

Overall, things are pretty balanced, although one of those eight games was West Ham v Arsenal where he booked two Arsenal players and none from the Hammers which seems odd.