As Arsenal prepare for their upcoming fixture against Crystal Palace, the appointment of referee Paul Tierney, accompanied by assistants Scott Ledger and Dan Robathan, has drawn attention.

Tierney’s past officiating in Arsenal matches (and in general) has been a source of controversy.

In Arsenal’s upcoming match against Crystal Palace, the officiating team will be led by referee Paul Tierney, with assistants Scott Ledger and Dan Robathan.

The fourth official is Andy Madley, and the VAR team will consist of Stuart Attwell and assistant VAR Steve Meredith.

Paul Tierney’s history with Arsenal has been marked by numerous controversial incidents that have left Arsenal fans displeased.

One notable incident occurred during the match against Manchester United at Old Trafford, where Arsenal had an early goal by Gabriel Martinelli disallowed following a VAR review.

Martin Odegaard was penalised for a push on Christian Eriksen, leading to the disallowance of the goal. This decision led to significant frustration among Arsenal fans and a notable response from the travelling supporters during the game (source: Football London).

Another contentious incident involving Tierney was during a North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur. Arsenal were trailing due to a penalty (shock) when Rob Holding received a second yellow card, resulting in his dismissal from the match. Tierney and the VAR team did not penalise an apparent elbow from Son Heung-Min on Holding earlier in the game.

Mikel Arteta, Arsenal’s manager, expressed his frustration with Tierney’s decisions in the match, suggesting that he could not openly speak his mind without risking suspension (source: Sky Sports).

These incidents, which are a tiny sample of Tierney’s problematic performances, suggest that Arsenal supporters and the team might have reservations about Tierney’s officiating in their upcoming match.

The focus will likely be on how Tierney manages the game and the influence of VAR decisions, especially in critical moments.

The match promises to be a significant one for Arsenal, and the role of the officials will be under close scrutiny once again.