Amid the current refereeing controversy surrounding both clubs, the Premier League have appointed their officials for Arsenal’s game against Wolves on Saturday.

Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta gestures on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Newcastle United and Arsenal at St James' Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, north east England on November 4, 2023. (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal’s Spanish manager Mikel Arteta gestures on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Newcastle United and Arsenal at St James’ Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, north east England on November 4, 2023. (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)

It’s fair to say Arsenal and Wolves aren’t exactly on good terms with the PGMOL right now.

Mikel Arteta is currently facing an FA charge of misconduct for comments he made about the officials following Arsenal’s defeat to Newcastle United, and he may end up being suspended for Saturday’s game.

On the other side, Wolves boss Gary O’Neil said on Monday that he was finally turning against VAR, arguing the decisions against his side in their clash with Fulham had cost them a result.

Wolves previously received an apology from the PGMOL for their failure to award them a penalty for a foul by Andre Onana of Manchester United, and O’Neil later complained about penalties awarded in matches against Newcastle United and Sheffield United.

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WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 30: Pedro Neto of Wolverhampton Wanderers celebrates with Gary O'Neil, Manager of Wolverhampton Wanderers, after the team's victory in the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Manchester City at Molineux on September 30, 2023 in Wolverhampton, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND: Pedro Neto of Wolverhampton Wanderers celebrates with Gary O’Neil, Manager of Wolverhampton Wanderers, after the team’s victory in the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Manchester City at Molineux on September 30, 2023. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

So in what is now being dubbed the “PGMOL derby”, Arsenal will take on Wolves at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, and the Premier League have confirmed their match official appointments for the clash.

Peter Bankes is set to referee the game, assisted by Eddie Smart and Nick Greenhalgh. Thomas Bramall will be the fourth official, with John Brooks on VAR assisted by Neil Davies.

Bankes has refereed both teams before the past, taking seven Arsenal games and 18 Wolves games, quite a few of which were when he was still a Championship referee.

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 11: Granit Xhaka of Arsenal confronts match referee Peter Bankes during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Brentford FC at Emirates Stadium on February 11, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND: Granit Xhaka of Arsenal confronts match referee Peter Bankes during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Brentford FC at Emirates Stadium on February 11, 2023. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Both teams have a winning record with Bankes officiating, with Arsenal winning four, drawing one, and losing two, whilst Wolves have won eight, drawn five, and lost five.

Bankes was refereeing the controversial 1-1 draw between Arsenal and Brentford last season, with the infamous case of the VAR official forgetting to draw the lines. But in fairness to Bankes, that had nothing to do with him as the on-field referee.

With any luck, we’ll have a controversy-free encounter between the two teams on Saturday.

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