Arsenal vs Newcastle: referee redemption or repeat controversy?

In a heart-stopping showdown at St James Park last November, the football world witnessed a clash of titans as Arsenal’s passionate manager, Mikel Arteta, was left seething with frustration and anger after his team suffered a devastating 1-0 defeat to Newcastle.

The match, which took place in early November last year, wasn’t just about the result; it was a rollercoaster of emotions, controversy, and high-stakes drama that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon emerged as the hero of the day, scoring the decisive goal in a game marred by contentious decisions that left Arteta and the Arsenal faithful in disbelief.

The goal itself was shrouded in controversy, with VAR conducting a triple check that ultimately allowed the goal to stand, much to Arteta’s dismay.

The aftermath saw Arteta expressing his raw emotions, labelling the decision as “disgraceful” and “embarrassing,” igniting a fiery debate that echoed through the footballing world.

As Arteta’s fiery outbursts reverberated, the spotlight turned to referee Stuart Atwell and the VAR team, accused of overlooking potential red card incidents that added fuel to the fiery clash.

Despite Arteta’s protests, the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) stood by the referees’ decision to award Newcastle the crucial goal, setting the stage for a fierce rivalry between the two clubs.

Since that fateful day in November, Arsenal has surged in form, putting them in prime position for a title challenge, while Newcastle has struggled to find their footing in the league standings.

The upcoming clash between the two sides, on 24 February 2024 (streaming live on Showmax Premier League), promises to be a battle of redemption and revenge, with Arsenal looking to maintain their winning streak and Newcastle aiming to play spoiler to the Gunners’ title aspirations.

With all eyes on referee Paul Tierney, the man entrusted with officiating this weekend’s highly anticipated match, the stage is set for a thrilling showdown between Arsenal and Newcastle.

Tierney’s track record and stats add an extra layer of intrigue to the game, as both teams vie for supremacy on the pitch in a clash that promises to be filled with passion, drama, and the relentless pursuit of victory.

Tune in to Showmax Premier League for live coverage of this electrifying encounter, where every moment is a testament to the resilience, skill, and determination of both teams.

This week Showmax takes a look at referee Paul Tierney and his track record with Newcastle and Arsenal. We also look into the stats between the two teams, having faced each other 31 times on previous occasions.

Paul Tierney

Referee Paul Tierney has been put in charge of this weekend’s game, while his assistants will be Neil Davies and Nick Hopton. Anthony Taylor has been named as fourth official, while on VAR Peter Bankes takes charge.

In the 20 games that Tierney has officiated so far this season, he has shown 74 yellow cards and three red cards.

He has also not been in charge of any of Newcastle United’s fixtures this season. He has refereed Arsenal on two occasions, overseeing a 2-2 draw with Fulham and their recent 5-0 win over Crystal Palace.

When it comes to the Magpies, the last time Tierney was the man in the middle was a 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground last season.

In his career, Tierney has refereed Arsenal 18 times, with the Gunners going on to win seven of those games, drawing five of the games, and losing six games.

Tierney also dished out 35 yellow cards and just a single red card, while he has awarded six penalties in fixtures featuring Arsenal.

Tierney has also taken charge of Newcastle games 18 times, with Newcastle winning 6 of those, drawing four, and losing eight games. He has also dished out 33 yellow cards and just a single red card, while he has handed out three penalties in games featuring Newcastle.

Head-to-head record

Arsenal vs Newcastle United’s head-to-head record shows that of the 31 meetings they’ve had, Arsenal has won 23 times and Newcastle United has won four times. Four fixtures between Arsenal and Newcastle United has ended in a draw. In these fixtures, Arsenal have managed to keep a clean sheet 61% of the time, while Newcastle have only managed a clean sheet percentage of 16%.

Arsenal go in to the fixture booming with confidence, having won their last five Premier League games, while at Newcastle they head to London on the back of two wins, two draws and a loss.

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