Chris Kavanagh has been appointed as referee for the crunch GW3 clash between Arsenal and Brighton this weekend (24/25 season). Both teams are unbeaten and are in the top four as of Week 2, which means one of the two could potentially lose that status this weekend. The Gunners are also yet to concede a goal in the PL this campaign (GS 4, GA 0)
Arsenal recent games under Chris Kavanagh as referee (2023/24, 2022/23 and 2021/22 seasons)
Liverpool 1-1 Arsenal (23/24)
Chelsea 2-2 Arsenal (23/24)
Newcastle 0-2 Arsenal (22/23)
Arsenal 3-2 Bournemouth (22/23)
Leeds 0-1 Arsenal (22/23)
Arsenal 2-1 Leeds (21/22)
As you can see, Arsenal haven’t lost a game (W4, D2) refereed by Kavanagh in the last 3 PL seasons. He was in charge of two AFC games last season- both high profile ones against Chelsea and Liverpool that ended in draws.
Brighton’s recent record under Kavanagh isn’t as impressive- they’ve won only one of their last six with him having the whistle. That being said, he is refereeing them after a gap- Kavanagh wasn’t in charge of a single BHAFC game last season.
Brighton last six games with Kavanagh as ref (L4, W1, D1)
Brighton 1-2 Aston Villa (2022/23)
West Ham 1-1 Brighton (21/22)
Brighton 2-0 Leeds (20/21)
Brighton 2-3 Man Utd (20/21)
Chelsea 2-0 Brighton (19/20)
Spurs 1-0 Brighton (18/19)
In GW1 in 2024/25, Kavanagh refereed the Leicester Spurs game (1-1 draw), but didn’t have a game in Week 2.
Brighton beat Man Utd last weekend in dramatic circumstances while two second half goals saw Arsenal get the better of Aston Villa.