PL appoint same Villa-Arsenal ref as in controversial previous fixture
After he was named on VAR for Arsenal’s win over Coventry City last Friday, Jarred Gillett is set for another Arsenal game next week.
The Premier League have confirmed that Gillett will referee Arsenal away to Aston Villa, assisted by Neil Davies and Steve Meredith. Sam Barrott will be the fourth official, with James Bell on VAR and Nick Hopton as the assistant VAR.
This isn’t the first time Gillett has refereed Arsenal at Villa Park, and the previous occasion sparked plenty of controversy.
Arsenal were denied a penalty for an apparent foul by Douglas Luiz on Gabriel Jesus, with the Arsenal man getting to the ball first and the contact clear on the replays, but no spot-kick awarded.
The Gunners then had a late goal ruled out for a supposed handball by Kai Havertz. The replays were somewhat inconclusive, but as Gillett had ruled out the goal on-field, VAR could only intervene if it was a clear and obvious error.
Arsenal will hope for less controversy this time around, particularly as Villa Park hasn’t always been a happy hunting ground for the Gunners in recent years.
Of the team’s seven trips away to Villa this decade, Arsenal have won three and lost four, including a 2-1 defeat during last season’s title-winning campaign.
With Arsenal opening their 2026/27 Premier League account with a 3-0 win, and Villa starting the season with a 4-0 defeat, the hope is that the Gunners are in a better position to pick up three points this time around.
