Nottingham Forest face a tough trip to Arsenal this weekend, with the referee for the match now confirmed. Arsenal, coming off a rough patch with recent losses, will be eager to bounce back after the international break, while Forest aim to challenge for European spots themselves, sitting level on points with their opponents.
The Premier League has appointed Simon Hooper to officiate the match at the Emirates. Hooper has been relatively low-profile this season, which may be a good omen for both teams. He’s officiated five games in the current campaign, including Forest’s 1-1 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Hooper has refereed 24 Forest matches in his career, with the Reds winning 8, drawing 5, and losing 11. Arsenal’s record under him is better, with 5 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss. Notably, Arsenal have beaten Forest twice under Hooper, including a 2-1 win last season and a 5-0 thrashing in 2022.
A positive for Forest is the relatively low number of yellow cards in games involving Hooper, with just one in the last two meetings.
