The Premier League has officially announced the match assignments for the upcoming round of matches, and at the center of attention is Craig Pawson, who is set to referee Arsenal’s match away to West Ham United. This announcement has generated considerable interest and anticipation among fans, players, and officials alike.
Assisting Pawson in this crucial fixture will be Marc Perry and Steve Meredith, while Graham Scott will be fulfilling the role of the fourth official. Meanwhile, John Brooks will be manning VAR duties, with Lee Betts providing valuable assistance. With such a competent and experienced team overseeing the match, the stage is set for an enthralling encounter.
When it comes to Craig Pawson’s record officiating Arsenal matches, the statistics present a relatively balanced picture, with the Gunners securing 16 wins and suffering 10 losses out of 29 games. However, one particularly memorable and controversial match in February 2021, where David Luiz and Bernd Leno were sent off in an infamous defeat to Wolves, became a low point in Pawson’s relations with the Gunners’ fanbase.
Nevertheless, since that contentious fixture, Pawson has managed to largely steer clear of significant controversy in his officiating of Arsenal matches. Notably, he has overseen significant games such as two North London derbies, both of which ended in victories for Arsenal, without any major incidents.
In some recent high-profile matches, such as Arsenal’s 3-1 victory over Manchester United in April 2022, Pawson managed the game effectively, with two penalties awarded, one for each side, both considered just decisions. Similarly, even in the 1-0 win against Leicester City last February, where a goal by Leandro Trossard was ruled out after a VAR intervention, Pawson maintained a composed and impartial stance as the on-field referee.
It’s worth noting that Arsenal has performed relatively well under Pawson’s officiation in their recent outings, winning seven out of eight matches since the start of the 2021/22 campaign. Despite their impressive record, the team did experience a lone defeat against Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup, in a match in which Pawson was at the helm.
Overall, as Arsenal prepares to face West Ham United under Pawson’s watch, the hope and expectation are for a smooth and incident-free game. Fans and stakeholders of the beautiful game will be eagerly keeping their fingers crossed for an enthralling but controversy-free encounter.
