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Rice red card ref in charge for Bournemouth-Arsenal clash

The Premier League have confirmed the match officials for the upcoming round of fixtures, including Arsenal’s match away to Bournemouth.

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 16: Referee, Chris Kavanagh checks the GDS prior to the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Chelsea FC at Emirates Stadium on March 16, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images

The Premier League have posted on their official website to confirm the match official appointments for this weekend’s games, which includes Arsenal’s trip away to Bournemouth on Saturday.

Chris Kavanagh is set to referee the match at the Vitality Stadium, with Dan Cook and Ian Hussin acting as his assistants. The fourth official will be Lewis Smith.

Then Paul Tierney will be on VAR, with Marc Perry as the assistant VAR for the match.

LONDON, ENGLAND: Referee Paul Tierney checks with VAR during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Everton FC at Stamford Bridge on April 15, 2024. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images

Kavanagh referees Arsenal relatively frequently, already having reffed two games involving the Gunners during the current Premier League campaign.

The two previous results were mixed, with Arsenal losing to Liverpool with Kavanagh refereeing, but then beating Burnley. In fairness, the two games didn’t particularly hinge on the officiating, with no penalties or red cards, and only a couple of bookings for each team.

There was more controversy involving the referee and Arsenal last season, when he dismissed Declan Rice against Brighton for “delaying the restart”, a rule that has been all but forgotten this season.

LONDON, ENGLAND: Declan Rice of Arsenal interacts with match referee Chris Kavanagh after being shown a second yellow card during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Brighton & Hove Albion FC at Emirates Stadium on August 31, 2024. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Over his career, Kavanagh has refereed 26 Arsenal games, with the Gunners winning 13, drawing seven, and losing six.

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