By Boluwatife Ezekiel Olaleye
Anthony Taylor is the man in charge when the Gunners travel to Wembley on Saturday lunchtime and that is a decision that may not go down well with the veteran Arsenal boss.
It was Manchester-born referee Taylor who handed Chelsea a controversial penalty at the start of last month when Eden Hazard went down under Hector Bellerin challenge.
Having conceded a controversial penalty at West Brom days before, the Frenchman was fuming with Taylor come the final whistle of the 2-2 draw.
Asked if the decision was worse than the penalty awarded by Mike Dean at The Hawthorns, Wenger said: “Worse or not worse, we know what we get.
“Look since the start of the season, it is what we have to take. We have to take it and to fight, but we cannot influence that.
“You ask me if it’s a penalty, I say it’s a farcical decision. You could give 10 penalties like that per game.
“You decide what you want. Anyway, read the foreign papers what they write about that, and then look after at the English papers, you will see the difference.”
As well as the penalty decision against Chelsea, Wenger also has previous with Taylor from last season.
Taylor was the fourth official when Arsenal took on Burnley at the Emirates Stadium last campaign, in which Wenger was sent off after telling Taylor to “f*** off” twice before claiming he was “dishonest to his federation”.
The Arsenal manager’s outburst saw him sent to the stands – and then earn a four-match touchline ban and a fine of £25,000.
While Wenger and Taylor may not see eye-to-eye, the Gunners do have a good record when Taylor has refereed them in the Premier League.
From a total of 18 matches, the Gunners have won 10, drawn six and lost two.