Without doubt as cool and collected as I've ever seen him, hopefully give the lad some much needed confidence.
I'm sure most of us were...during the seconds where he was through on goal, my mind drifted to the mental image "Obertan Shots on Target : 0/17"...
He did more in that cameo thatn ben arfa did in the whole of the first half. I think he wasn't fully fit the last few games he played because of that gammy toe. Ben arfa has been sh*t the last 2 games so i'd start with Obertan against villa. Get the senegalese assassins up front and guthrie and perchiniho in the middle. job done.
Ben Arfa is still young, also a confidence player and he needs games to get back to his best. Ben Arfa could be world class, obertan will never achieve that standard. Id keep using ober as a sub unless ben arfa continues to be poor the next few games.
I think people have made to much of Ben arfa, great ability but **** overall work rate. He's more of a liability than an asset to the team, gives the ball away far to easily and when he does he doesn't look to chase and get it back. Be interested to see 5 across midfield with Obertan in the centre to make the direct runs into the box, since he doesn't really at as good cover for Danny Simpson and reluctant to cross into the box.