Jarred Gillett, a Liverpool supporter, has been assigned to the VAR booth for the match between Arsenal and Newcastle this weekend. This will mark the fourth time this season that Gillett has played a direct role in an Arsenal game, either as the referee or as the VAR official, raising eyebrows among fans and pundits alike.
Gillett’s previous involvement in Arsenal fixtures has not been without controversy. Most notably, during the Gunners’ clash against Bournemouth, Gillett intervened to recommend a red card for William Saliba, resulting in the defender’s suspension for a crucial match against Liverpool, which ended in a 2-2 draw.
His increasing presence in Arsenal games—40% of their Premier League fixtures so far—contrasts sharply with other officials, none of whom have officiated more than two Arsenal matches this season.
Arsenal supporters remember Gillett’s controversial handling of incidents in their opening game against Wolves, where he failed to book Yerson Mosquera for two serious fouls, including an incident involving Kai Havertz. Although Arsenal won the match, Gillett’s leniency was met with widespread criticism.
