BRIGHTON, ENGLAND - JUNE 20: Hector Bellerin of Arsenal appeals to referee Martin Atkinson during the Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Arsenal FC at American Express Community Stadium on June 20, 2020 in Brighton, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

“Ridiculous”: Arsenal fans rage at Atkinson decisions

Jun 20, 2020

Martin Atkinson angered Arsenal fans with his treatment of Yves Bissouma during the Brighton match on Saturday, refusing to book the player.

BRIGHTON, ENGLAND - JUNE 20: Referee Martin Atkinson speaks to Matteo Guendouzi of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Arsenal FC at American Express Community Stadium on June 20, 2020 in Brighton, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Gareth Fuller/Pool via Getty Images) — BRIGHTON, ENGLAND: Referee Martin Atkinson speaks to Matteo Guendouzi on June 20, 2020. (Photo by Gareth Fuller/Pool via Getty Images)

Martin Atkinson refereed the Arsenal match away to Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday, but he seemed to have a blind spot for one particular player racking up infringements.

Yves Bissouma committed six fouls and left a few Arsenal players flat on the floor away from the play, but somehow avoided a yellow card. Arguably, that foul count also should’ve been a lot higher, but Atkinson turned a blind eye a few times.

He stopped a breakaway counter-attack with a foul, he clotheslined a player, he gave away a free-kick for a high challenge, but none of it was worthy of a booking.

21 Premier League referees, why do Arsenal always get Martin Atkinson?

Only Jordan Ayew has made more fouls (seven) in a single Premier League game without being booked this season. That performance was against Arsenal too. Funnily enough, with the same referee in charge.

Latest Arsenal injury updates and news

Understandably, Arsenal fans weren’t happy about it:

No card for Bissouma? This is getting ridiculous.

— Lewis (@LGAmbrose) June 20, 2020

What does Bissouma have to do to get a yellow?

— Tim Stillman (@Stillberto) June 20, 2020

How has Bissouma not been booked today?

— AFTV (@AFTVMedia) June 20, 2020

How has Bissouma not got a yellow card yet? I hate this ref so much

— 🅿️1⃣ (@P1AFC) June 20, 2020

Bissouma can literally stab someone and not get booked.

— TikiTakaConnor (@TikiTakaConnor) June 20, 2020

Bissouma down injured. I can only assume he fouled himself.

— Paddy (@PaddyArsenal) June 20, 2020

It was definitely bizarre. If Matteo Guendouzi makes one or two fouls he ends up on a watchlist, three or four and he’d be risking a sending-off, let alone a booking. As would most players in most games most weeks.

For whatever reason, Atkinson never latched onto the fact it was the same player making cynical fouls over and over again. Just like he never caught on with Ayew earlier this season. And just like he’ll fail to notice the next time it happens.

Latest Arsenal injury updates and news