Former Premier League referee Howard Webb has revealed that Arsenal became an easy team to referee because they were often bullied out of games by opponents.





Howard Webb enjoyed an illustrious career as a referee, reaching his pinnacle in 2010 after refereeing the World Cup final between Spain and Holland.

The 45-year-old was also a prominent figure in the Premier League for a number of years, officiating some of the highest-profile fixtures in the division, that included the Manchester derby, for which he admitted to ​'bottling' the decision to send off Cristiano Ronaldo .





Speaking on BBC 5 Live Webb talked about how Arsenal became the easiest side to referee due to their naivety and lack of mental strength in games.





"Arsenal became easier to referee over time," he told BBC 5 Live, as quoted in the ​Metro .

Howard Webb reveals why Arsenal were the easiest Premier League team to referee https://t.co/lgLdy2oYjv pic.twitter.com/IUO0WZPD3e — Mirror Football (@MirrorFootball) October 22, 2016

"When I first started they were quite a daunting team to referee, they would get into your head. They got easier and you got the sense that other teams bullied them on the pitch a little bit.





”And then they’d react in a really obvious, a really naive way. I thought they were too naive as a team."





The Gunners have since earned a reputation in the Premier League as having a 'softer touch' than others, with a number of their players being proficient in the art of play-acting.





Arsene Wenger's side could go top of the Premier League on Saturday if they can grind out a result against Middlesbrough, with Manchester City set to play Southampton on Sunday.









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