Referee Martin Atkinson Says Tomas Rosicky Became His Favorite Participant To Address

ExclusiveROSICKY LOVE 16:forty eight, sixteen Apr 2021Updated: 10:03, 19 Apr 2021

PREMIER LEAGUE arsenal news referee Martin Atkinson found out Tomas Rosicky changed into his preferred player to deal with - after the former Arsenal celebrity invited him to ref his testimonial inside the Czech Republic. 

And Atkinson stated Alan Stubbs become the hardest participant he has officiated, with the Everton hard guy “scaring me to dying”. 

2Atkinson is a huge fan of the former Arsenal preferred after the former midfielder invited him to ref his testimonialCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

Speaking at a Q&A in aid of North East intellectual fitness charity If U Care Share, the Prem whistler become asked who he loved reffing maximum. 

Rosicky arrived in North London from Borussia Dortmund in 2006. 

His 10 year spell with the Gunners turned into hampered by way of a series of long-time period accidents however he won two FA Cups before leaving for Sparta Prague in 2016 and retiring the next 12 months elderly 37.

And Leeds-fan Atkinson, 50, said: “I’ve been fortunate that I’ve were given on with the significant majority of players but one which stands proud is Tomas Rosicky.

“I continually were given on genuinely well with him. We just pleasantly were given on, no longer best arsenal rosicky news pals or owt like that but he changed into always really respectful. 

“And when he left Arsenal, when he retired finally, an unknown email got here thru and it became from Sparta Prague asking if I will exit and referee his retirement game. 

“You simply by no means assume that and it become just a pleasant factor.” 

Atkinson, a former police officer, made his top-flight bow within the 2004/05 season.  

And he named burly centre-back Stubbs as the hardest participant to try and maintain below manipulate. 

Asked who he least enjoyed reffing, Atkinson said: “Alan Stubbs at Everton. 

“He might kick whatever that moved, was tough as nails and scared me to demise when I first were given on. 

“He become just so hard to referee that it turned into, like, impossible. I learned loads from that - you discover ways to manipulate players.”

2No-nonsense Everton defender creating a beeline for Atkinson in 2007Credit: Alamy