Arsenal-Bournemouth referee appointment is ominous omen | OneFootball

David Coote is set to referee Arsenal’s match against Bournemouth on Saturday, in a somewhat ominous omen for the Gunners.

BURNLEY, ENGLAND: Match Referee, David Coote reacts during the Premier League match between Burnley and Brighton & Hove Albion at Turf Moor on August 14, 2021 in Burnley, England. (Photo by Nigel Roddis/Getty Images)

The Premier League have confirmed the officials for all of this weekend’s fixtures, including Arsenal’s match against Bournemouth on Saturday, May 4th.

David Coote is set to referee the match, assisted by Tim Wood and Mark Scholes. Darren England will act as the fourth official, with Peter Bankes on VAR, and Stuart Burt as the assistant VAR.

Arsenal fans might be somewhat wary of the appointment, as Coote has refereed a few recent games that have been pivotal for the Gunners in the 2022/23 and 2023/24 title races.

SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND: Referee David Coote makes a decision during the Premier League match between Sheffield United and Everton at Bramall Lane on December 26, 2020. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

In his last match refereeing Arsenal, Coote watched the Gunners lose 2-0 to Aston Villa, their only Premier League defeat of 2024.

Two games before that, Coote refereed Arsenal’s infamous 2-2 draw away to West Ham United, with the Gunners letting two points slip after a comeback inspired by a Said Benrahma penalty.

In fairness, Coote did award Arsenal a penalty that day too, as many fans will remember.

A couple of games before that, Coote was the referee as Arsenal lost to Everton at Goodison Park, a defeat that kicked off a three-game run without a win that pulled Manchester City back into the title race.

Ahead of that game, Arsenal had only lost once all season, and they were on a 13-game unbeaten streak.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND: Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal, reacts during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Arsenal FC at Goodison Park on February 04, 2023. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

It’s hard to blame the refereeing for any of those results. In fact, the most controversial decision Coote has made in his last five Arsenal games was actually in a Gunners win, sending off Takehiro Tomiyasu in a 1-0 victory at Selhurst Park.

But it’s certainly an ominous omen ahead of Saturday’s game, with Arsenal desperate for a win to keep their title hopes alive.

In other news, Liverpool fan Jarred Gillett continues to be appointed to games involving Arsenal or Manchester City, this time getting the fourth official job for City’s game against Wolves.