Man City vs Arsenal Referee Stats: Michael Oliver appointment benefits Premier League champions
Manchester City welcome Arsenal to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon as City look to maintain their 100% start to the season at the Gunners' expense. It's the case of attack vs defence at the Etihad with City, led by the imperious Erling Haaland, the joint-top scorers in the league this season, while Arsenal have the joint-best defence having conceded just once in their opening four games.
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Much of the focus will be on the man in the middle at the Etihad Stadium with Michael Oliver taking charge. Sunday will mark Oliver's fifth league game of the campaign and the second time he has officiated both City and Arsenal this season, the former beating West Ham 3-1 and the latter defeating Aston Villa 2-0.
However, the appointment of Oliver as referee is one that won't appeal to Arsenal fans. Indeed, Oliver has dished out more yellows (90) and red cards (6) to the Gunners in his career. While he has sought to balance matters for Arsenal, however, giving their opponents 108 yellows and four reds, it doesn't bode well that four of the six red cards he has given to Arsenal players have come away from home.
In addition, City have benefited from Oliver officiating in games in the past, with the defending champions boasting the best win ratio (76.1%) and claiming the most points per game (2.37) from games he has taken charge of. By comparison, Arsenal have a win ratio of 44.2% and average 1.54 points per game.
Oliver has a knack for pulling up Arsenal players in their own penalty box, too, with the referee giving 0.25 penalties per game against Arsenal. For a City side that is one of three teams to have scored a penalty in the Premier League this season, the north London side need to be wary at committing offences in their own box.
Sunday's game at the Etihad Stadium could prove decisive come May as these two Premier League title contenders lock horns in Manchester this afternoon.
