Premier League make match official decision for Arsenal vs Leicester - ex-Foxes boss was unhappy in previous loss

Arsenal make the trip to the King Power Stadium this weekend as they face a game against Leicester City, looking to get back to winning ways after their 2-0 Carabao Cup defeat to Newcastle.

The Gunners have had a week-long warm weather training camp in Dubai, as they didn’t have an FA Cup match over the weekend. Mikel Arteta will hope that it has done his players the world of good. Although there is already one set-back with Kai Havertz set to be out for the rest of the season.

Arsenal will be keen to close the gap on league leaders Liverpool as they play against a Leicester side, who are struggling down the bottom of the table. Ruud Van Nistelrooy’s side are 18th in the table, two points off safety.

They have lost their last three games and have only won one match in their last six games, whereas Arsenal has lost just one in their last seven games.

Premier League appoint controversial referee for Leicester game

The Premier League has appointed Sam Barrott to take charge of the game on Saturday. He previously refereed the reverse fixture between the two sides which was a 4-2 victory for Arsenal at the Emirates in September.

Arsenal went 2-0 up in the game before Leicester defender James Justin scored twice early in the second half to level up the match. However, goals from Kai Havertz and Wilfred Ndidi (OG), helped the Gunners to all three points.

However, during the match, Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori put in a challenge on Leicester’s Facundo Buonanotte when they were on the counter attack. He was already on a yellow card, and could have easily been shown another by Barrott, but the referee decided against it.

After the game, then Leicester manager Steve Cooper spoke to Sky Sports, he said: “I don't want to make the headlines around referees because I'm trying to take responsibility for a team trying to do better in the Premier League, but it's a clear foul on Jamie Vardy for the first [Arsenal] goal and the left-back has to get sent off for a second yellow. There's so much more we could say. The whole game knows, but I'm not going down that road today."

Barrott has taken charge of 18 games this season, showing 82 yellow cards, but is yet to show a red. He was last seen in a Premier League match between Southampton and Newcastle at the end of January.

Barrott’s assistants and VAR

Tim Wood and Wade Smith have been appointed as Barrott’s assistants for the game on Saturday. They have both been assistants in nine matches this year, working together in their last game which was Liverpool’s shock 1-0 FA Cup defeat to Plymouth Argyle.

Oliver Langford will be the fourth official, he has refereed 21 games this season, showing 75 yellow cards and two red cards. He was last seen in a Championship meeting between Watford and Leeds United, where Leeds won 4-0 earlier this week. The VAR for Saturday’s game will be Paul Tierney, who has not been a referee this season, but only worked on VAR.

In other news, Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly interested in a Premier League flop who Arsenal have been linked to.