Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg doesn’t believe that Raheem Sterling dived against Arsenal, although he acknowledges that the penalty he drew was ‘clever’.

Clattenburg has given his opinion on Manchester City’s penalty against Arsenal on Sunday and he reckons that Sterling didn’t dive, although the 22-year-old definitely knew what he was doing.

“It is very clever of Sterling because he slows down so that there is always going to be contact from Monreal, who cannot stop quickly enough,” Clatts said for the Times.

It was a penalty. Sterling went down easily but Nacho Monreal made contract and, as Clattenburg says, if it had happened to an Arsenal player, Arsene Wenger would probably be annoyed if it hadn’t been given.

The boss did not see it this way

“I believe it was no penalty,” he blasted post-match. “We know that Raheem Sterling dives well, he does that very well.”

Yikes.

sterling monreal penalty
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 05: Nacho Monreal of Arsenal fouls Raheem Sterling of Manchester City and a penalty is awarded during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Arsenal at Etihad Stadium on November 5, 2017 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

City’s penalty, scored by Sergio Agero, put Pep Guardiola’s side 2-0 ahead. However, after Alexandre Lacazette was subbed on in the second half, the Gunners finally kicked things up a notch and the 26-year-old found the back of the net, bringing the score to 2-1.

Clattenburg admits that Wenger does have reason to be annoyed over City’s third goal as David Silva was ‘yards’ offside before he passed the ball to Gabriel Jesus.

The City striker, who’s been on fire this season, made no mistake in slotting it home. Although his job was made infinitely easier since apparently no one told Arsenal’s defence you’re supposed to play to the whistle.