Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg has revealed exclusively to Arsenal Insider exactly what it was like to officiate a game with Arsene Wenger.
The former Arsenal boss was known to have a difficult relationship with some referees over the years, following some decisions he felt went against him.
Arsene Wenger famously went on an outburst about officials on a few occasions, not least when the Gunners were struggling.
However, over the years, the Arsenal icon was always seemingly fine with Mark Clattenburg, as the ex-Premier League referee revealed to Arsenal Insider.
- READ MORE: What Arsenal and Mikel Arteta privately think about Jakub Kiwior after Gabriel Magalhaes’ injury
Mark Clattenburg reveals respect for Arsene Wenger from refereeing Arsenal
While there may have been many run-ins over the years between Arsene Wenger and referees, Mark Clattenburg claims that he had nothing but respect for the officials.
The Arsenal boss had gained a reputation for clashes, but the ex-referee revealed what it was really like managing a match with him on the sidelines.
Speaking exclusively to Arsenal Insider, Clattenburg said: “I had big respect for him [Arsene Wenger] and he was always very correct with me.
“Of course, when he was winning, he was different, but he always spoke to me in a very correct way. I remember he was working for French TV when I was refereeing a friendly match Ukraine v France in Donetsk, and we met in the restaurant after the match, he was telling all of his colleagues that I was one of the best referees in England.
“Even after we both finished, we met on his role in FIFA and still had time to talk. Sure, he had a grumpy side, but in general, I did not have many run-ins with Arsenal during his time.”
It shows the classy nature of Wenger, even when he can get caught in the heat of the competitive sport.
Mark Clattenburg’s record when refereeing Arsenal
During his time as a referee, Mark Clattenburg took charge of plenty of Arsenal matches before retiring.
The 50-year-old was the main match official for 40 matches involving the Gunners – the third most of any team, behind only Manchester City (42) and Aston Villa (41).
| Matches | Arsenal win | Draw | Arsenal lose | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 | 25 | 5 | 10 | 62.5% |
Clattenburg showed 60 yellow cards to Arsenal players in those matches, along with two straight red cards.
11 penalties were also awarded in their games, ending up with a win rate just above the 50% mark.
Receive a digest of our best Arsenal content each week direct to your mailbox
