Arsenal v West Ham United
Premier League, Emirates Stadium, Thursday 28 December 2023, 8.15pm GMT
Referee: Michael Oliver
Assistants Referees: Stuart Burt and Dan Cook
Fourth Official: Rob Jones
VAR: Craig Pawson
Assistant VAR: Ian Hussin
Michael Oliver has been named the referee for West Ham United's trip to Arsenal.
Born in Ashington, Northumberland, Oliver was introduced to refereeing by his father, Clive, at the age of 14 and became the youngest referee to officiate at Wembley Stadium when he refereed the 2007 Conference National play-off final. He had already become the youngest Football League assistant referee, youngest Football League referee, and would also become the youngest fourth official in the Premier League.
Oliver has refereed two FA Cup finals, the 2018 final between Chelsea and Manchester United and 2021 final between Chelsea and Leicester City, and also took charge of Liverpool and Manchester City's meeting in the Carabao Cup final in 2016 as well as the 2014 Community Shield between Manchester City and Arsenal.
Oliver, who also refereed three matches at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, is taking charge of his second West Ham United match of the season, having also officiated the 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace at the start of December.
As he was at London Stadium, Oliver will be assisted by Stuart Burt and Dan Cook at the Emirates. Burt, like Oliver, got into refereeing through his father and also worked the 2022 FIFA World Cup alongside the official. He has run the line at 14 Premier League matches so far this season.
Cook, meanwhile, has been a Premier League assistant referee since the 2015/16 season and has worked at 12 top flight games so far this campaign. He has also worked across UEFA European competitions, including the Champions League, and in the Championship and League One play-offs.
Rob Jones will serve as the fourth official on Thursday. Jones has been a Premier League referee since 2019 and has taken charge of eleven top flight matches to far this campaign. He has also officiated in the UEFA Europa League and refereed the 2019/20 EFL League One Play-Off final between Wycombe Wanderers and Oxford United.
Another experienced Premier League referee is overseeing Video Assistant Referee responsibilities in Craig Pawson. Pawson also led VAR in the Hammers' 2-1 win away at Burnley in November, and has also served as the fourth official at three other West Ham matches so far this campaign.
