‘Wow’ - Lewis Hall proves Newcastle United love with Hatem Ben Arfa remark
Lewis Hall has named Hatem Ben Arfa as the player from Newcastle United’s history who would excel in Eddie Howe’s team.
The French maverick was a cult hero during his four-year stay at St James’ Park. Initially signed on loan from Marseille, Ben Arfa broke his leg four games into life on Tyneside.
Newcastle still took the £5million punt to make the winger a permanent signing and he starred for Alan Pardew the following season. Eased back into Toon life, he played an integral part during the second half of the 2011-12 campaign as the Magpies secured Europa League football.
However, discipline issues became as regular an occurrence as match-winning displays - a common theme throughout Ben Arfa’s career. Former Toon coach John Carver - an assistant at the time - revealed the fiery Frenchman tried to throw a fridge off Pardew during a half-time spat.
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The relationship turned unrepairable and ended with Ben Arfa’s loan move to Hull City in 2014. Ironically, Steve Bruce, then a future Newcastle manager, was the Tigers boss and also failed to handle his antics.
Despite the controversies, Ben Arfa remains a beloved figure among those who witnessed his occasional genius in black-and-white stripes. A career that promised so much, ultimately, delivered little but the Magpies could argue they saw his best.
His name regularly features when fans are asked about bringing a former player back and sticking him in the present. And current star Hall echoed that sentiment when asked who he would wish to see in Howe’s team.
“I’d love to put Ben Arfa in there somewhere,” he told the Premier League. “I feel like he’s very skilful, and I feel like he was a different sort of player to what football is now. I feel like he would entertain the crowd and do so many things that would make you think ‘Oh wow, what a player’.”
Hatem Ben Arfa vs Alan Pardew feud at Newcastle United revisited
Ben Arfa reflected on a turbulent relationship with Pardew towards the latter stages of his Newcastle career. He was forced to train with the reserves before being shipped out on loan.
“In 2014, Newcastle sent me to the reserves for two months,” Ben Arfa said. “I was called up normally for training, I would get changed in the senior squad dressing room, but then I would work with the youngsters on some remote pitch. You had to walk a long time to get there. I felt very humiliated, but this episode taught me patience.”
Pardew opened up about both sides of the Ben Arfa coin when speaking to talkSPORT last year. He said: "Unfortunately for Hatem, who was an unbelievable talent, if you asked me which player you'd want to give the ball to to beat two defenders of the players I've had in the past it would be him, but I did not play him all the time.
"He antagonised staff and players. He had this way of upsetting the camp. His defensive work was zero. But he was a tremendous talent on the ball."
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