The Premier League have confrimed the referee who will take charge of Manchester United’s trip to face Arsenal in North London on Sunday afternoon.
Michael Carrick will take charge of his second Manchester United fixture since returning to the club, with a crucial Premier League test away at Arsenal on Sunday.
United sent out a major statement on Carrick’s return last week, delivering a scintillating performance to defeat Manchester City 2-0 at Old Trafford. The margin could have been even greater, with three further goals ruled out for offside.
It was one of the most impressive performances supporters have seen from the side in a long time and has sparked renewed belief ahead of the trip to North London.
Arsenal sit seven points clear at the top of the table, though a drab 0-0 draw with Nottingham Forest at the weekend slowed their momentum. With United pushing for Champions League qualification, the stage is set for a fierce and explosive contest on Sunday.
Premier League confirm Arsenal vs United referee
Craig Pawson (pictured above) will be the referee on Sunday afternoon in North London. Pawson has officiated 12 Premier League fixtures this season, as well as four in other domestic competitions.
Pawson has officiated United just once this campaign, the 3-1 loss against Brentford in September, although he was also on VAR for United’s win over City last weekend.
This season, Pawson has issued 23 yellow cards in the Premier League and 41 across all competitions. He has issued one red card this season and awarded two penalties, both in the Premier League.
During the game, Lee Betts and Mat Wilkes will serve as Pawson’s assistant referees. Tom Bramall will be the fourth official on Sunday afternoon, separating Carrick and Mikel Arteta.
Paul Tierney has been appointed as the Video Assistant Referee. Dan Robathan will act as assistant VAR.
PGMOL had to apologise to United for Pawson
United’s 3-1 loss against Brentford was already a sour day, although it was made much worse after defender Nathan Collins was not sent off for denying Bryan Mbeumo a goalscoring opportunity.
Collins fouled Mbeumo in the box, having pulled him back, but VAR and Pawson decided it was not a red card offence for the denial of a goalscoring opportunity, as Mbeumo ‘didn’t have control of the ball’, even though he was clearly first to the cross and it was a first-time finish he was going for.
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Following the game, United director of football, Jason Wilcox, wrote a letter to the refereeing governing body, PGMOL, to complain about the obvious error that many feel cost his club thegame.
According to the Daily Mail, PGMOL head Howard Webb then wrote a reply to Wilcox, admitting that Pawson had made a huge error and that Collins should have been sent off.
Many have also complained that Pawson should have sent Diogo Dalot off against City while he was in control of VAR for a challenge on Jeremy Doku, and that he has never handed United a red card in his 40 competitive fixtures officiating the club.
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