Arsenal vs Man City TV experiment decision made after heated Premier League clash

The upcoming Premier League match between Arsenal and Manchester City will feature the ongoing trial of a novel TV feature when the two teams clash later this month. The Premier League and PGMOL are jointly testing the 'Ref cam' this season.

Chosen matches will have the referee equipped with a shirt-mounted camera, an earpiece, and a microphone. The captured footage can then be incorporated into the live TV broadcast of the match, providing viewers with a unique pitch perspective.

According to a report by the Daily Mail, the Arsenal vs Man City match at the Emirates Stadium has been selected for the use of these cameras. The match is scheduled for Sunday, 21 September, with a kick-off time of 4.30pm.

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Last season's encounter at the Etihad Stadium sparked some friction between the two sides, with City accusing Arsenal of employing 'dark arts' to maintain a 2-1 lead despite being down to 10 men. Pep Guardiola's team managed to level the score in the 98th minute, resulting in a 2-2 draw.

The Ref cams will provide a unique viewpoint as the official presides over the match, with the identity of the referee to be announced by the Premier League in the run-up to the game. However, no contentious incidents from the match will be shown, and there will be no live footage from the camera, with the images instead used for replays of match incidents.

The concept was tested during the latter part of last season and throughout the Premier League Summer Series in the USA. Referee Jarred Gillet sported a boycam during the Crystal Palace vs Manchester United match in May, with some footage being shared by the league post-match.

Sky Sports also utilised this feature earlier in the season during their broadcast of Liverpool's 3-2 victory over Newcastle United at St James' Park. The televised footage included referee Simon Hooper's perspective of Ryan Gravenberch's opening goal.