---
title: "Who is the referee for Arsenal vs Chelsea? Chris Kavanagh record explained"
canonical: "https://readchelsea.com/2026/09/06/arsenal-vs-chelsea-referee-chris-kavanagh-record/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "James Chettle"
section: "Chelsea News"
published: "2026-09-06T13:15:00Z"
modified: "2026-10-10T21:43:43Z"
---

# Who is the referee for Arsenal vs Chelsea? Chris Kavanagh record explained

**Chris Kavanagh will referee Arsenal against Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium this afternoon, with Darren England appointed as the VAR for the London derby.**

Xabi Alonso takes his unbeaten Chelsea side to the Premier League champions for a 4.30pm BST kick-off, with both clubs looking to maintain their perfect league starts.

The officials have now been confirmed ahead of one of the biggest fixtures of the weekend.

## Who is the Arsenal vs Chelsea referee?

Kavanagh will take charge of Arsenal vs Chelsea.

The full officiating team is:

- **Referee:** Chris Kavanagh
- **Assistants:** Dan Cook and Tim Wood
- **Fourth official:** Tom Bramall
- **VAR:** Darren England
- **Assistant VAR:** Constantine Hatzidakis

The appointments have been confirmed in [Chelsea’s official Arsenal vs Chelsea match facts](https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/article/arsenal-vs-chelsea-key-statistics-and-facts-26-27?utm_source=chatgpt.com).

Kavanagh has extensive Premier League experience, but Chelsea supporters may particularly remember his most recent game involving the Blues.

## Kavanagh’s last Chelsea game ended with red card

Kavanagh last refereed Chelsea on the final day of the 2025/26 Premier League season.

It proved a difficult afternoon.

Chelsea lost **2-1 at Sunderland**, while Wesley Fofana was dismissed after receiving two yellow cards in the space of eight second-half minutes.

Fofana received his first booking in the 54th minute before Kavanagh showed the defender a second yellow in the 62nd.

[Chelsea’s official report from the Sunderland defeat](https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/article/match-report-sunderland-2-1-chelsea?utm_source=chatgpt.com) confirms Fofana’s dismissal came shortly after Cole Palmer had pulled the Blues back into the match.

There are no Chelsea or Arsenal players suspended for today’s meeting.

Attention will instead turn towards how Kavanagh handles what could become an intense London derby.

Chelsea’s aggressive transition game could create difficult decisions for the officials, particularly if Arsenal attempt to stop counter-attacks before they develop.

Alonso also faces his own major personnel decisions.

Our [Chelsea predicted XI against Arsenal](https://readchelsea.com/2026/09/05/chelsea-predicted-lineup-vs-arsenal/) explains why Reece James could be used in midfield, while [Moises Caicedo remains Chelsea’s biggest fitness question](https://readchelsea.com/2026/09/04/moises-caicedo-injury-update-chelsea-arsenal-xabi-alonso/) ahead of kick-off.

With Darren England overseeing VAR, any major penalty, red-card or offside decision will also have another experienced official involved at Stockley Park.