Hatem Ben Arfa vs Sunderland (04/03/2012) HD

[video=youtube;MN5aRlDnc3I]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MN5aRlDnc3I[/video]

 

Made McClean and Richardson look silly. He might be coming to the boil at just the right time. Top class.

You watch them highlights though and think, **** me, how good is Tiote. He just took control of the game and made their middle three look pretty average (though they grafted hard for them)

 

Ben Arfa really is a class above anyone else we have. You can just tell.

Far too many of our players panic or don't stay composed, so they simply try to get a shot away in any way they can and pepper the goal with the hope of it going in. You can see Ben Arfa often takes a moment to carefully figure out what he's going to do. He doesn't just blast it towards the goal, he looks at where the keeper is, plans his shot and then delivers it with precision.

It's the same for passes. There are no Taylor or Jonas-esque blind crosses into the middle of the box hoping that someone can get on the end of it. He plans where he wants it to go and delivers it.

He was a game changer on Sunday, so for **** sake Pardew play the guy. The fans want it, so bloody do it.

 

He is a class player, but what surprised me most with Ben Arfa was he was battling for the ball which I don't remember him ever doing.

That was my biggest critism for him is he'd lose the ball and not fight to chase it down or get it back.

But he got stuck in on Sunday, so fingers crossed he is starting to get what is expected of him.

 

He's been doing it for about 3 games or so now from what I can remember, but they obviously weren't very long appearances.

 

ALL HAIL KING BENNY!

This is why he should have started twice as many games. This is why he should be our first choice right winger. This is why so many of us have been pissed off as Pard's all season for treating him the way he has.

Just think what he would be like with a 20 games under his belt by this stage of the season.

Play him.

 

To get stuck in and have the bottle to do what he did in a derby game and in a losing situation shows true courage to our cause. He really impressed me and long may it continue.

 

I certainly hope his display changes Pardew's mind that he can't put the graft in. You won't get a more physical game than that on Sunday and he shone.

 

You've hit the nail on the head with bravery. Thats exactly what it is, brave. Thats why some of us dont like Obertan, no bravery whatsoever. He too scared to even just run down the line and take someone on for crying out loud.

Raylor has been a trojan for us this season, but Benny is the best and surely the future. Otherwise, he's gonna be gone doing his magic somewhere else.

 

A lot of people seem to get over excited by the idea of Ben Arfa playing - the reality is less stunning. Those 'highlights,' bar a couple of good touches, were nothing remotely special and his general performances reflect that. That doesn't mean I don't think he should play because Obertan and Raylor have been ****e, but for me, he needs more time on the pitch + an improvement in his decision making.

 

We're not saying he is perfect, just saying he is class. More importantly, the best option without doubt in home games for that right hand side. No question. If he had started more games, we would have more points. I'm convinced of that. I'm thinking the Swansea game & Wolves game draws in particular.

 

Thats the best I've personally seen him play live, having not travelled to Everton away (seriously, reading these forums you'd think we had 50,000 there) and not gone to Blackburn in the cup, and I hope it is the performance that sees him kick on and do that when he does start. That said he doesn't do that every time he comes on, his performance against Stoke last year following Everton was awful and thats not a one off, so I do understand why he hasn't made the position his own yet. Would like to see him play against Arsenal though, just the type of game that would suit him.

Glad this fella doesn't do MOTD 'highlights' though, it'd be on for hours. Witness him playing two short passes! Be thrilled as it hits his legs and doesn't go out for a throw in! Marvel as he falls over!

 

In that video alone Ben Arfa did things far and beyond what Ryan Taylor or Obertan are capable of.

You know, some people moan because Ben Arfa tries things which sometimes don't pay off, but I cannot stand Raylor, Obertan or even Jonas just booting blind crosses into the box and hoping that Ba or Cisse can bring it down and take a shot. It actually rarely ever works from what I've seen. There's no attempt to open the defence up or take advantage of space. It's just 'get it into the box, get it into the box' and essentially hope for the best.

At least Ben Arfa is trying to be innovative and is trying to set up situations which catch the defence out, as they're far more likely to result in goals. I'd rather he did that instead of being praised for just lumping simple crosses into the box which never amount to anything.

 

Had the unwashed left hand side in his pocket

 

Some of the positions Ben Arfa takes up on the edge of the box are class.

Yet we never, ever seem to give him it for a shot... it's always just howked into the area.