Which club Anthony Taylor supports as Man City vs Arsenal ref's allegiance confirmed

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Premier League referee Anthony Taylor will oversee Arsenal's trip to Manchester City this Sunday

Anthony Taylor will officiate Arsenal's clash with Man City(Image: Marc Atkins, Getty Images)

Who Man City vs Arsenal referee Anthony Taylor supports

1. The appointment: PGMOL have confirmed that Anthony Taylor will take charge of what is arguably the biggest fixture of the season. Taylor ranks among the most seasoned referees in the Premier League, having spent 16 years officiating at the top flight.
2. Taylor's supported club: Born in Wythenshawe, Manchester, Taylor has been a lifelong fan of nearby Altrincham. This has been reaffirmed by former referee Graham Scott, who noted in The Athletic that Taylor has held a season ticket at Moss Lane for a number of years and regularly attends the National League club's fixtures whenever his officiating commitments permit.
3. The "Manchester" controversy: Given that Taylor is from Greater Manchester, his selection for matches involving Manchester City or Manchester United frequently invites scrutiny from rival supporters. However, his declared loyalty to a non-league club absolves him of any conflict of interest under existing PGMOL guidelines, with Scott maintaining that Taylor has no connection to United or City.
4. Disclosure rules explained: Professional referees are required to declare their club allegiances to PGMOL at the outset of their careers and update them where necessary. They are strictly forbidden from officiating matches involving the club they support, or matches involving that club's immediate rivals, in order to guarantee complete impartiality and shield the referee from unwarranted pressure.
5. Man City vs Arsenal: This fixture is being touted as a "winner-takes-all" showdown. Arsenal currently sit six points clear of City at the summit – however, given City's game in hand, a victory on Sunday would see them seize the upper hand in the title race.
6. Recent meeting: City will arrive brimming with confidence following their statement victory over Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final last month. A brace from Nico O'Reilly secured a 2-0 triumph for Pep Guardiola's side at Wembley, extending Arsenal's six-year major trophy drought.
7. Contrasting form: The Gunners have looked shaky in recent weeks, falling to defeat in three of their last five matches across all competitions. City, meanwhile, are in superb shape, having dismantled both Liverpool and Chelsea this month.
8. Taylor's history in the fixture: Taylor is well-acquainted with this particular clash, having refereed numerous high-stakes encounters between the two sides. He took charge of their meeting in March 2024, which ended goalless, as well as their February 2023 contest, which City won 3-1.
9. READ MORE: How to watch Man City vs Arsenal: TV channel, live stream, kick-off and radio coverage