The Premier League have appointed their match officials for Arsenal’s game against Nottingham Forest on Saturday, with the international break almost at an end.
With only a handful of internationals left to play over the next few hours, club football is on the verge of a return, and Arsenal will be back in action on Saturday afternoon against Nottingham Forest.
The Premier League have now confirmed their match officials for the weekend’s fixtures, including that clash at the Emirates Stadium.
Simon Hooper will referee the match, with Adrian Holmes and Simon Long as his assistants. Dean Whitestone will be the fourth official, with Darren England on VAR and Marc Perry as the assistant VAR.
Hooper is a rare referee without much in the way of Arsenal-related controversy. He’s never awarded a penalty for or against the Gunners, nor a red card – whether a straight red or second yellow.
Perhaps the one controversial decision was during Arsenal’s League Cup trip to West Ham in 2023, when Hooper allowed a goal despite a clear shirt pull on Aaron Ramsdale as the corner came in.
But those sorts of incidents are difficult to catch in real time, and even Arsenal fans would accept the Gunners were the inferior team on the day.
There was also a contentious disallowed goal in Arsenal’s away win over Everton in 2023, with Gabriel Martinelli’s finish ruled out for offside despite a stray Everton leg giving him possession. But that had more to do with Stuart Atwell on VAR and the varying interpretations of the offside rule.
The West Ham game is actually the only time Arsenal have lost with Hooper refereeing, with a disappointing 3-3 draw against Southampton the only other poor result.
More recently, Arsenal won 5-0 against Chelsea and defeated Saturday’s opponents Nottingham Forest away from home earlier in 2024 with Hooper officiating.