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Arsenal are back in Champions League action this week as Mikel Arteta’s side look to keep their European momentum going
Arsenal face an away trip to Belgium on Wednesday night to play Club Brugge in the Champions League. The Gunners will be looking to bounce back from their 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa last time out in the Premier League. They conceded a last-gasp goal against Unai Emery’s side at Villa Park and slumped to a disappointing defeat.
The London outfit remain top of the league as they look to win the title amid competition from the likes of Manchester City and Villa. Mikel Arteta’s men also sit at the summit of the Champions League table as well after five matches. They have won every game so far as they look to keep their momentum going in Europe.
Arsenal referee appointment made
UEFA have confirmed that German referee Sven Jablonski will be the man in the middle for Arsenal’s clash against Club Brugge. Eduard Beitinger and Lasse Koslowski have been appointed as the assistant refs, with Tobias Reichel as the fourth official. Meanwhile, Sascha Stegemann and Ivan Bebek will be on VAR duties.
Jablonski has been working in football since 2008. He is an experienced official who has worked his way up through the German pyramid. The 35-year-old has been on FIFA’s list since 2022 and is in UEFA’s First Category.
He made his Europa League debut in October 2024 in a match between Lyon and Rangers. The Bremen-based man then officiated his first Champions League clash in November for Pafos vs Villarreal. Outside of the game, he works as a bank clerk.
Sven Jablonski involved in Bundesliga controversy last season during Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund clash
Jablonski made headlines in Germany in the last campaign after allowing a controversial equaliser for Jamal Musiala and Bayern Munich against Borussia Dortmund. Dortmund defender Nico Schlotterbeck believed the game should have been stopped after Niklas Sule sustained a head injury. He said: “He (Jablonski) said that for him, it wasn’t a serious injury. Overall, he officiated the match very well today. In that situation, I would have stopped the game. In the end, it was decisive that Jamal was so free because Niki (Süle) was lying on the ground."
Jablonski responded after the match: "It was a shot on goal. You have to see if he deflects the ball with his hand. It was an important scene. The shot is blocked and then I follow the ball because the play continues immediately afterwards and a goal is scored immediately afterwards. I decided on [awarding the] goal and I wasn't sure whether there was a serious head injury."
Arsenal will be hoping to keep their impressive run of Champions League form going. They have performed well so far this term and have proved to be a tough nut to crack. Their priority this term will be to win the Premier League title but there is no reason why they can’t give it a good crack in Europe as well. They will need all their players to play their part as the matches start to come thick and fast.
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