If Arsene Wenger was to be replaced as the Arsenal manager this summer it would be interesting to see whether the team was treated any differently by the Premier League officials. You might think that the identity of the man in the dugout would have no influence on their decisions but I am not so sure.
I certainly think that Jose Mourinho and his constant and harsh criticism of the refs during his latest spell at Chelsea made his side get fewer decisions go their way and after 20 years in charge in north London it is widely accepted that the Frenchman and our club are heavily linked together.
Wenger has certainly had his fair share of run ins with EPL officials down the years and just recently was banned from the touchline for pushing 4th official Anthony Taylor with a few choice expletives thrown in for good measure. Add to that the fact that we seem to get some awful decisions go against us and I cannot help but wonder of the refs and their assistants are not big fans of the boss.
It could also be that they do not like Arsenal i9n general, but the only other explanation for referee Martin Atkinson failing to award us any of the three possible penalty kicks against West Ham last night is complete incompetence.
The first was for a push on Theo Walcott in the first half and I am certain he would have given it the other way. The second was harder to see but replays proved that Monreal had his foot stepped on. The third was as blatant and would have led to second yellow as well as a spot kick, but Atkinson waved all three away with an air of arrogance, leaving Wenger fuming on the sideline.
Do you think the officials have generally got it in for the Gunners, Wenger, or both?
Sam P.