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Hatem Ben Arfa reveals how he wants to be a Geordie football hero

 

 

 

HATEM BEN ARFA is quick and straight to the point when asked about who his main influences were during his childhood.

 

In a flash, Ben Arfa offers up “Diego Maradona”.

 

However, it is clear his two years on Tyneside so far have not come without him dovetailing perfectly into the Geordie fans’ love for witnessing a true entertainer.

 

Now the playmaker – who goes into the West Brom game tomorrow in what he describes as the form of his life – has spoken of his determination to become as popular as Paul Gascoigne and Peter Beardsley at St James’ Park.

 

The mercurial Newcastle United star, brought up on a council estate in Clamart, played football in the street until it was dark and then went home to dream about emulating Diego Maradona.

 

Ben Arfa has already shown he has what to takes to emulate the Argentine global icon who broke English hearts in 1986 with his Hand of God goal before mesmerising the world with that solo strike during the World Cup in Mexico.

 

Of course, Ben Arfa has managed to produce something along those lines TWICE since recovering from a broken leg in the early days of his career on Tyneside, after weaving his way around the hallowed turf to score against Blackburn and Bolton last term.

 

And in a candid interview, one of the best players of his generation has lifted the lid on his biggest influences in football.

 

“When I was younger I loved Maradona and tried to be like him,” he said.

 

“Gascoigne is another, of course I know who Paul Gascoigne is!

 

“Everybody knows about him for what he does on the pitch.

 

“He was a very good player.”

 

Yet after just a few weeks at Newcastle, another Geordie icon who was regarded as one of the best players to have ever pulled on an England shirt caught the eye of another Ben Arfa – even if he didn’t quite recognise him at first glance.

 

With a smile the Frenchman said: “When I first came here, we were training and Peter Beardsley joined in.

 

“I said to him ‘You are a very good player’.

 

“Then a few people told me about him.

 

“I went home and typed his name into You Tube and I was amazed at how good he was – he was amazing.

 

“Maybe I shouldn’t be surprised that he is still amazing at 51!

 

“He’s a big player and I would like to be like him.”

 

Having given himself a history lesson, Ben Arfa now wants to serve up more magic moments like Pedro and Co.

 

And he said: “I want to bring fans off their seats at Newcastle.

 

“I know that is part of the history here.

 

“Step by step I want to entertain. The fans love players like Peter – if I could be like him it would be great.”

 

Ben Arfa’s form this season has been nothing short of sensational in a black-and-white shirt.

 

Just 12 months ago he was battling back from injury and struggling to get into Alan Pardew’s unbeaten team.

 

But now he couldn’t be happier, and said: “I’m very happy – I just love playing football.

 

“When I play, I’m happy. I like to work hard every week and give my maximum for the club.

 

“I am very happy to be able to do what I know on the pitch.

 

“The fans like that. When we win the game and I have been able to play my football, it makes me smile even more.

 

“Because when I play my football and we don’t win, I’m not happy at all. It is all about winning.”

 

 

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Guest nufc_89

Pardews has taken Ben Arfa to the next level. He sacrifices himself for the team, imagine that three years ago. Pardews man-to-man management cannot be praised enough.

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Guest VanBarduck

Ben Arfa is the third best dribbler in Europe behind Ribéry(Bayern) , Choupo-Moting ( Mainz ) , Messi is actually in 6th position , Luis Suarez( Liverpool ) is 8th , Ronaldo is not even in the top 20 ! http://www.whoscored.com/Statistics go to player statistic and then click offensive tab then dribbling tab ...

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Still think playing him in the centre behind the striker(s) would be his best position.

 

Was at the Augsburg - Hamburg match yesterday and had a look at Van der Vaart - he was constantly running around in circles, always free to get the ball. Was the perfect performance from a playmaker that yesterday.

 

Every other player looked for him to get on the ball as much as possible because he relieves so much pressure.

 

Ben Arfa could do the same, but on the wing he sometimes can't be involved that much.

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I sort of agree but think he's perfectly fine in a proper wing position high up pitch, don't like him playing really wide and picking up ball at half way line, dooms him to mostly do a good run but eventually be outnumbered too much

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Pardews has taken Ben Arfa to the next level. He sacrifices himself for the team, imagine that three years ago. Pardews man-to-man management cannot be praised enough.

 

He should be playing further forward and he should be more involved when we're trying to get at the opposition.  I would be happy to never see him in our half as defending isn't his job, we have plenty of others in the team who can help out on defence but offer very little at the other end of the pitch.

 

Ben Arfa is our most creative player by a mile and we should be maximising his potential, Keegan would have been brilliant for him.

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