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The Premier League has now announced the officials that will take charge of the match between Fulham and Arsenal at Craven Cottage on Sunday 31st December (14:00).
Referee: Josh Smith.
Assistant Referee: Edward Smart.
Assistant Referee: Nick Greenhalgh.
Fourth Official: Tim Robinson.
Video Assistant Referee: Paul Tierney.
Additional Video Assistant Referee: Scott Ledger.
This will be the eighth time Josh Smith has been the man in the middle for a match involving Fulham, but only his first match involving Arsenal. His first-ever match refereeing Fulham was their 3-1 win at home versus Swansea City in the Championship during the 2021/22 season. He showed one yellow card in this match, which was for Ben Cabango (Swansea City).
His most recent match involving the hosts was their 5-0 win at home versus Nottingham Forest in the Premier League at the start of December. He only brandished one yellow card on this match (Ryan Yates, Nottingham Forest).
Josh Smith was the man in the middle for 35 matches during the 2022/23 season. In those matches, he showed 140 yellow cards (4.00) and 4 red cards. He was most card happy in the League One encounter between Charlton Athletic and Ipswich Town (4-4) when he showed 9 yellow cards, including a booking for former Arsenal youngster George Dobson and a booking for Tyreece John-Jules, who was on loan from Arsenal to the League One side at the time.
So far this season he has refereed 22 matches, showing 83 yellow cards (3.77) and 5 red cards. He brandished 8 yellow cards and 1 red card in the Premier League match between Brentford and Burnley (3-0) back in October.
Sources: English Premier League and Soccer Base.
