The English Football Association has appointed Andre Marriner to referee Manchester United’s clash against Arsenal at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Both Jose Mourinho of United and Arsene Wenger of Arsenal will clash this weekend for the first time this season.
However, Marriner was the man in the middle for Mourinho’s first game in charge of the Red Devils when they ran out 3-1 winners at Bournemouth on the opening day of the campaign.
He has not refereed the Gunners this season and has never taken centre stage in a game between the clubs.
Match officials appointed for #PL Matchweek 12 (19-21 Nov): https://t.co/6bCr6lFIDj pic.twitter.com/74zllGBUqr
— Premier League (@premierleague) November 14, 2016
Marriner has officiated 21 United games in the Premier League in his career, with the club winning 13, drawing one and losing seven. In that time he has shown 33 yellow cards and one red card.
The 45-year-old also famously mistook Kieran Gibbs for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain during Arsenal’s 6-0 defeat to Mourinho’s Chelsea in 2014, a mistake for which he was dropped from the Premier League’s referee list.
United and Arsenal’s clash this weekend is arguably one of the biggest games of the season thus far, with Mourinho’s side desperate to move up the table – they currently languish in sixth – while the Gunners will hope to maintain their pressure on leaders Liverpool.
Arsenal drew 1-1 with Tottenham in a spiky north London derby last time out, while United defeated Swansea City 3-1 in Wales.
SEE full match officials for this weekend’s match week 12 fixtures here.
