This former Premier League striker recalls how he and his team-mates mocked thier manager in the dressing room after his heated confrontation with an iconic Arsenal boss
06:00, 31 Jan 2026
Marlon Harewood speaking on In The Mixer
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Marlon Harewood has opened up about Alan Pardew's clash with Arsene Wenger(Image: In The Mixer)
Marlon Harewood cheekily suggested to Alan Pardew that Arsene Wenger would have given him a thrashing during their infamous touchline spat in 2006. The altercation was sparked by a last-minute goal from the striker that sent Upton Park into chaos.
Almost two decades ago, Pardew's West Ham locked horns with Wenger's Arsenal at the Hammers' home ground. Despite the Gunners being the clear favourites, as the 90th minute loomed, the score remained nil-nil.
That was until Harewood stepped up, tapping in a cross to secure victory. The striker celebrated wildly, ripping off his shirt, but his manager's enthusiasm matched his own. Pardew's exuberant gestures towards the Arsenal bench incensed Wenger, leading to the Frenchman pushing Pardew and a heated exchange of words ensued.
Alan Pardew and Arsene Wenger square up to one another
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Pardew and Wenger came to blows after the late goal(Image: Sky Sports)
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Wenger was seen labelling Pardew a disgrace and the pair didn't shake hands post-match. Although Pardew later apologised, he was ribbed in the dressing room after the win by Harewood and others, who joked that he would have been "beaten up" by the Arsenal legend, who was subsequently fined £10,000 for the incident.
"We were teasing him and saying, 'You'd get beat up,'" recalled Harewood, speaking on In The Mixer brought to you by Sky Bet. "I didn't even know [they fought] because I was celebrating.
"Then we sat down in the dressing room and we had a big screen in front of us and saw the confrontation. We were like, 'Pards, what are you doing? You're gonna get beaten up!'"
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Reflecting on his relationship with Pardew, Harewood shared: "At that time it was amazing because I think I was one of his first signings and then the first time I met him he was like buzzing that I came.
"Then one of the things that resonated with me, he said, 'It's gonna be tough but you're gonna be my number one.' To be fair, he stuck to his word because I remember being in the Premier League and I went probably about eight, nine games without scoring.
"When you don't score a goal, you get all that hostility from the fans and it's hard. But then he kept putting me in, kept putting me in and then I scored my first goal. That led to a hat-trick and then being top goalscorer."
Marlon Harewood of West Ham celebrates scoring during the Barclays Premiership match between Fulham and West Ham United at Craven Cottage
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Harewood is a Hammers cult hero(Image: Getty)
However, Harewood confessed that their relationship soured towards the end when he fell out of favour, but he comprehends Pardew's decisions. He explained: "The second season, we were under a hell of a lot of pressure. And Pards was under a lot of pressure.
"We weren't doing as well as the season before. He was under pressure with me. So, for Pards, I don't know if I was scoring or not, I scored a couple of goals, but not as many to help the lads. So we've got the likes of Carlton Cole coming into the team. You've got all these players you need to start playing because we weren't winning games.
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"And as a player, when you're not playing, you take it out on the manager or whoever, inside. The relationship is not really there because you're not doing as well as you should be and it's difficult. So I wouldn't say the relationship turned bad but I'd just say the way we played just didn't help the situation."
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