EthiGeordie Posted March 31, 2012 Share Posted March 31, 2012 What an article about him on the Observer http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/mar/31/newcastle-united-hatem-ben-arfa? Newcastle United put Ben Arfa in mood to make up for all the lost time Frenchman with a turbulent past seems changed by new-found happiness. But he warns: 'I'll always be different' It is rare that a 25-year-old who has won a European Championship, five league titles and two domestic cups can be described as an underachiever. Yet such is Hatem Ben Arfa's talent that despite those prizes there is a sense – shared by the player himself – that he has yet to fulfil his potential. Recent performances for Newcastle United – notably his bravura display against West Brom last Sunday – have ignited hopes that he may have finally put his problems behind him and is about to take off on Tyneside. When France won the Under-17 European Championship in 2004, Ben Arfa was widely hailed as the best player in an extraordinary team that featured Samir Nasri and Karim Benzema. But even before then he had been identified as a turbulent character, as two years earlier a documentary team filming French training at Clairefontaine caught, on tape, Ben Arfa, a scholar there since the age of 12, fighting with his team-mate Abou Diaby, now of Arsenal. He made his Ligue 1 debut for Lyon in 2004 and went on to win four titles with the club but never became a stalwart, his inconsistency infuriating a succession of managers, notably Gérard Houllier with whom he regularly argued. He clashed with team-mates, too, and ultimately with the club's owner, Jean-Michel Aulas. Lyon eventually had enough and, in 2008, accepted a bid from bitter rivals Marseille. Ben Arfa could hardly have left Lyon on less amicable terms, with the club and the player publicly trading jibes for weeks afterwards – the most memorable exchange being when Ben Arfa accused Lyon of being "financially disorganised" and Lyon responded by revealing that when they cleared out Ben Arfa's locker at their training ground they found that he had absent-mindedly left behind a cheque for €90,000. After a scorching start to his Marseille career his flame dimmed to the point that Eric Gerets dropped him. Ben Arfa seethed. And his relationship with the manager blew up when Ben Arfa refused to come off the bench in the derby against Paris St-Germain. He later apologised but his dispute with the club went on for weeks, during which he did not train. The following season brought a new manager, Didier Deschamps, but more mishaps, as flashes of brilliance were followed by flashes of, well, flashness: in one match his entrance off the bench was delayed because he struggled to remove his gold chain; in another because he was wearing the wrong jersey. The player said that he was unhappy and searching for his identity. In the second half of the season he found it, on the pitch at least, as he produced his best performance for Marseille and hinted at a new maturity in his game, adding efficient decision-making to his magical dribbling and shooting. Marseille won the league. Still, all was not well in Ben Arfa's world. His father, the former Tunisia international Kamel Ben Arfa, went public to express his concern for his son's lifestyle and the perceived negative influence of his agent. Ben Arfa Jr says that at one point he was on the verge of giving up sport to join a religious cult. His transfer to Newcastle in 2010, initially on loan, represented a shot at a renaissance. He began well and earned a recall to the France senior team, only for a tackle from Manchester City's Nigel de Jong in October 2010 to leave him with a broken leg. His recuperation clearly went well, both physically and mentally. In an interview with France Football last month Ben Arfa said that he has finally found inner peace. "I know I have an image of being arrogant and only shining when I want to, but it's not 'when I want to', it's when I can," he explains. "In the past I wasn't able to because I was unhappy. But I'm still aiming for the same thing that I always have: to be the best. I'll never be like others and that's the way I want it. I've always tried to show what makes me different. I'm not interested in going on to the pitch and making pointless two-metre passes like some players do – so I have to accept that people are going to be more demanding of me." He is demanding on himself, too: "Check me out in three or four years. I can see myself being at the very top then, maybe winning the World Cup in Brazil or the Ballon d'Or. I still have lots of dreams." Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ishmael Posted April 1, 2012 Share Posted April 1, 2012 What a man :********) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mimifrench Posted April 1, 2012 Share Posted April 1, 2012 How many assist for him now?? Must be insane considering the amount of time he played... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ishmael Posted April 1, 2012 Share Posted April 1, 2012 What a fucking player. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
timeEd32 Posted April 1, 2012 Share Posted April 1, 2012 Incredible pass. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpal78 Posted April 1, 2012 Share Posted April 1, 2012 He does not get the ball in Liverpool's half often enough, but when he does, there's a high chance of something special happening Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoU Posted April 1, 2012 Share Posted April 1, 2012 As good as he is playing right now, I really feel that he can get even better. With experience, training his position and decision-making he can be an incredible player with the ability he has. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ketsbaia Posted April 1, 2012 Share Posted April 1, 2012 Sensational talent. He's a joy to watch. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
timeEd32 Posted April 1, 2012 Share Posted April 1, 2012 He'd be unplayable if he started taking some shots with his right foot when he has the opportunity. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willow Posted April 1, 2012 Share Posted April 1, 2012 With every game he's getting tidier, more consistent and just more fucking amazing. I'm trying to calm myself though, because I want to see him as a regular in our team for years to come. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minhosa Posted April 1, 2012 Share Posted April 1, 2012 Working his bollocks off too, so Pardew will be happy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BlacknWhiteArmy Posted April 1, 2012 Share Posted April 1, 2012 Hope to see him one on one again with Enrique, in or near the penalty box. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
henke Posted April 1, 2012 Share Posted April 1, 2012 Did he skin enrique, or did enrique fall over? I was laughing too hard to see. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stottie Posted April 1, 2012 Share Posted April 1, 2012 Played great again! We didn't play it right side enough second half though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dinho lad Posted April 1, 2012 Share Posted April 1, 2012 Did he skin enrique, or did enrique fall over? I was laughing too hard to see. i think jose fell over, tbh. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
David28 Posted April 1, 2012 Share Posted April 1, 2012 Working his bollocks off too, so Pardew will be happy. Pardew's reaction while taking him off showed that, too. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lenny Posted April 1, 2012 Share Posted April 1, 2012 Contributes so much, he seems to either score or assist every game. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmonkey Posted April 1, 2012 Share Posted April 1, 2012 Did he skin enrique, or did enrique fall over? I was laughing too hard to see. Thought he 'megged him, which led to the loss of balance and subsequent planking effort. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallowgate Toon Posted April 1, 2012 Share Posted April 1, 2012 Diligent second half as we were a little more conservative but played a massive part in both of our goals, looks as though he'll make something as soon as he gets on the ball. Great player and fantastic to see him on form. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
juniatmoko Posted April 1, 2012 Share Posted April 1, 2012 cant blame him from 2nd half low performance... because seem we attack more from left so get less ball than 1st half... yet still managed to give assist.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Posted April 1, 2012 Share Posted April 1, 2012 Working his bollocks off too, so Pardew will be happy. Pardew was having a right go at him to get back before the first goal. Level 7 before anybody asks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nordstrom Posted April 1, 2012 Share Posted April 1, 2012 This is the Ben Arfa we have been pining to see ever since he signed for us nearly 2 years ago. Bargain. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amir_9 Posted April 1, 2012 Share Posted April 1, 2012 Nice to see him tracking back and defending as well now. Well done to Pardew for improving him as a player oh and leaving Enrique falling down on his arse. Amazing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRon Posted April 1, 2012 Share Posted April 1, 2012 Ripped Jose a new one in the first half. Rose to the occasion like a champ. I really hope he gets a call up to France fopr the Euros because a happy ben Arfa is gong to be better for us. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Howaythetoon Posted April 1, 2012 Share Posted April 1, 2012 Pardew cannot be unhappy with him now, he played really well today, not as exciting and as explosive as away to West Brom, but a very consistent and hard working effort with spashes of his briliance when needed resulting in 2 goals for Cisse. He has proved he is not a liability even against the better sides or so called bigger sides/clubs. He could well be sensational for us next season. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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