Martin Atkinson will take charge of his fourth Arsenal game of the season this weekend when he turns up at the Emirates on Sunday for the match against Crystal Palace.
In what will be only Arsenal’s 10th league game of the season, Martin Atkinson will be handed the whistle for the fourth time meaning that for a full 40% of games he will have been in charge. Forty percent is a number he likes because that’s how many key decisions he’s got right this season in all games.
In total, Atkinson has refereed eight games this season before this weekend’s match.
Yes, the man from Bradford – because you aren’t allowed to be a PGMOL official if you’re from the south, apparently – is currently the worst referee in the league. Quite the honour when you consider the company he keeps.
I went looking for a tweet I published a few days ago detailing how few refs we’ve had this season and found a selection of Atkinson tweets I’ve sent throughout the years.
First, the tweet I was looking for:
Arsenal referees this season for PL games (inc Palace this weekend):
Atkinson
Dean
Taylor
Atkinson
Taylor
Moss
Friend
Atkinson
Dean
Atkinson— Daily Cannon (@DailyCannon) October 22, 2019
Now, the others. There is, as you can see, a theme…
2013
Fuck sake Atkinson
— Daily Cannon (@DailyCannon) September 14, 2013
Oh yes, Atkinson. He used to love sending people off then he stopped. Hard to know. Still, a red for Kos is always a decent bet.
— Daily Cannon (@DailyCannon) November 2, 2013
2014
LOL RT @DailyCannon: Atkinson is useless
— Asyrofi (@Asy_mz) October 5, 2014
2015
Atkinson is a fucking joke
— Daily Cannon (@DailyCannon) April 18, 2015
2016
BRACES FOR EVERYBODY! Alexis makes it 4 FUCK YOU ATKINSON
— Daily Cannon (@DailyCannon) October 29, 2016
Ozil hails Arsenal’s ‘mentality’ after Atkinson helps Sunderland equalise https://t.co/enPJVDXpb5 by @hleehurley
— Daily Cannon (@DailyCannon) October 29, 2016
Atkinson horror show highlights desperate need for change https://t.co/d5ell5GHHS by @S_Jamet
— Daily Cannon (@DailyCannon) October 30, 2016
2017
Atkinson couldn't have had a clearer view of the Boro non-penalty and Liverpool non-red
— Daily Cannon (@DailyCannon) May 21, 2017
2018
Martin Atkinson doing what Martin Atkinson does
— Daily Cannon (@DailyCannon) November 24, 2018
2019
Fuck you Atkinson
— Daily Cannon (@DailyCannon) September 1, 2019
Martin Atkinson in charge. Serious injury incoming.
— Daily Cannon (@DailyCannon) March 3, 2019
According to the app, URef, Atkinson has moved up to 11th from 12th place this season after last weekend but his key accuracy rate remains at 40%.
He is, as you can see from the details below, a ref to have if you’re the away team:
In the three Arsenal games he’s refereed this season (Newcastle A, Spurs H, Bournemouth H) he has issued a total of 15 yellow cards, well above his 3.49 career average.
Seven have gone to Arsenal players and eight to opposition which is surprising considering Arsenal get yellow cards easier than any other side in the division
It will be his first Crystal Palace game of the season.