MICHAEL OLIVER is set to take charge of an Arsenal clash for the first time since his controversial decision to send off Myles Lewis-Skelly.
The referee has been confirmed as the man in the middle for the Gunners’ North London derby against Tottenham on Sunday.
Oliver had not been handed an Arsenal game since showing Lewis-Skelly a straight red card against Wolves ten months ago.
The left-back was dismissed for a cynical challenge on Matt Doherty, who was looking to break away on the counter-attack but was still 90 yards from the Gunners’ goal.
PGMOL chief Howard Webb later confirmed that Oliver was wrong to give Lewis-Skelly his marching orders – and admitted that VAR should not have allowed the decision to stand.
Although the Gunners went on to seal a 1-0 win at Molineux in January, the man in the middle still came under fire.
Former head of PGMOL Keith Hackett called for Oliver to be dropped by the Premier League following his major blunder.
And the 40-year-old ref also had police guarding his house after being subjected to death threats and disgusting abuse in the wake of sending off Lewis-Skelly.
But the Premier League confirmed that Oliver will be in the middle for the meeting between Arsenal and arch-rivals Tottenham this weekend.
Stuart Burt and James Mainwaring have been named as his assistants, with Michael Salisbury on fourth official duties at the Emirates Stadium.
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Stuart Attwell will be the VAR, with Constantine Hatzidakis also keeping tabs on proceedings from Stockley Park.
Arsenal are going into the meeting sitting at the top of the Premier League, having only suffered one defeat in 11 matches.
But Mikel Arteta’s side will be looking to bounce back after being forced to settle for a draw in their final game before the international break thanks to Brian Brobbey’s stoppage time leveller for Sunderland.
Tottenham have the best away record in the top flight, after collecting 13 points from five matches on the road.
But Spurs will arrive at the Emirates Stadium having failed to win either of their last two domestic games against Chelsea and Manchester United.