Arsenal — refereeing decisions

Since the Premier League's independent Key Match Incidents panel began publishing, 17 confirmed refereeing errors have involved Arsenal — 10 in their favour and 7 against them, a net expected-goals swing of +2.21 across 15 matches.

More calls against a club is not evidence of bias — the spread between clubs is close to what chance produces. RefCard publishes the ledger, not an accusation.

By season

Every confirmed error involving Arsenal

• 2026-27 · Aston Villa v Arsenal (2026-08-31) — referee Jarred Gillett; the decision went against them. Panel: The panel felt that a penalty should have been awarded on-field for Maatsen's reckless challenge on Guimaraes. Clear contact was made on the attacker's standing leg and Maatsen made no contact with the ball. They also felt that VAR should have intervened as the non-penalty award was a clear and obvious error.
• 2026-27 · Aston Villa v Arsenal (2026-08-31) — referee Jarred Gillett; the decision went against them. Panel: The panel felt that the challenge was reckless and therefore a second caution should have been awarded.
• 2025-26 · Everton v Arsenal (2025-12-20) — referee Sam Barrott; the decision went in their favour. Panel: 2025-26 KMI VAR error (missed_intervention): penalty_not_awarded — Everton v Arsenal. OF vote 2-3, VAR vote 2-3.
• 2025-26 · Brighton v Arsenal (2026-03-04) — referee Chris Kavanagh; the decision went in their favour. Panel: 2025-26 KMI VAR error (missed_intervention): penalty_not_awarded — Brighton v Arsenal. OF vote 1-4, VAR vote 2-3.
• 2025-26 · Arsenal v Leeds (2025-08-23) — referee Jarred Gillett; the decision went in their favour. Panel: 2025-26 on-field below-threshold (B#3): penalty_awarded — Arsenal v Leeds. No votes (below clear-and-obvious threshold).
• 2025-26 · Arsenal v Chelsea (2026-03-01) — referee Darren England; the decision went in their favour. Panel: 2025-26 on-field below-threshold (B#20): penalty_not_awarded — Arsenal v Chelsea. No votes (below clear-and-obvious threshold).
• 2025-26 · Arsenal v Everton (2026-03-14) — referee Andy Madley; the decision went against them. Panel: 2025-26 on-field below-threshold (B#23): penalty_not_awarded — Arsenal v Everton. No votes (below clear-and-obvious threshold).
• 2025-26 · Chelsea v Arsenal (2025-11-30) — referee unknown; the decision went against them. Panel: 2025-26 on-field below-threshold (B#9): goal_allowed — Chelsea v Arsenal. No votes (below clear-and-obvious threshold).
• 2025-26 · Arsenal v Aston Villa (2025-12-30) — referee Darren England; the decision went in their favour. Panel: 2025-26 missed second yellow (Mikel Merino, Arsenal). No votes.
• 2025-26 · Arsenal v Burnley (2026-05-18) — referee Paul Tierney; the decision went in their favour. Panel: 2025-26 KMI VAR error (missed_intervention): red_card_not_shown — Arsenal v Burnley. OF vote 0-5, VAR vote 1-4.
• 2025-26 · Manchester City v Arsenal (2026-04-19) — referee Anthony Taylor; the decision went in their favour. Panel: 2025-26 on-field below-threshold (B#26): red_card_not_shown — Manchester City v Arsenal. No votes (below clear-and-obvious threshold).
• 2024-25 · Wolves v Arsenal (2025-01-25) — referee Michael Oliver; the decision went against them. Panel: A cynical trip to stop a counter-attack. The initial point of contact is high on the shin, but not forceful and with the side of the boot. This initial contact moves down quickly to the foot, meaning this foul should only result in a yellow card for a reckless challenge.
• 2024-25 · Bournemouth v Arsenal (2024-10-19) — referee Robert Jones; the decision went in their favour. Panel: Thomas Partey challenged Marcos Senesi in the penalty area but referee did not award a penalty.
• 2024-25 · Everton v Arsenal (2025-04-05) — referee Darren England; the decision went against them. Panel: Referee wrongly awarded Everton a penalty in the 46th minute for a challenge by Myles Lewis-Skelly on Jack Harrison; the KMI panel judged it an on-field error below the clear-and-obvious threshold for VAR intervention. No panel vote split was published.
• 2023-24 · Newcastle v Arsenal (2023-11-04) — referee Stuart Attwell; the decision went in their favour. Panel: 2023-24 KMI VAR error (missed_intervention): red_card_not_shown (Havertz on Longstaff) — Newcastle 1-0 Arsenal, min 36. No per-incident vote split published in the season-end source.
• 2023-24 · Liverpool v Arsenal (2023-12-23) — referee Chris Kavanagh; the decision went in their favour. Panel: 2023-24 KMI VAR error (missed_intervention): penalty_not_awarded (handball Ødegaard) — Liverpool 1-1 Arsenal, min 19. No per-incident vote split published in the season-end source.
• 2023-24 · Newcastle v Arsenal (2023-11-04) — referee Stuart Attwell; the decision went against them. Panel: 2023-24 KMI VAR error (missed_intervention): red_card_not_shown (Guimarães elbow on Jorginho) — Newcastle 1-0 Arsenal, min 45. No per-incident vote split published in the season-end source.