I can't see Cabaye staying (to answer your question). In all fairness he's the kind of player who in the correct set-up with quality players around him could look like a £20-£30m player and at a champions league club I think he would do. He's not in the league of a Modric/Ozil/Fabregas though and I'm not convinced he's who Arsenal need but hey ho - I actually think it was just a move to unsettle him as we were never going to accept less than £15m.
At Newcastle he has varied a lot, was ace in his first season but blew hot and cold last year. Main issue is that we wont replace him, or if we do it will be either with someone much worse or a player who will take 6 months to settle - and we can't afford that!
I don't blame him for wanting to leave but the timing of Arsenals bid and the reaction of the player in not carrying on with match preparation does leave a sour taste. Would it have affected the result? No almost certainly not. I do think it has some bearing on exactly how disjointed we looked and played but a loss was always on the cards even with perfect preparation and Cabaye in the team. I just hate the way Arsene felt it was an appropriate time to unsettle a player, it could pretty much have been any manager of a top club about any player at a non-top club and its not how business should be conducted but its not against the rules and will happen more in the next few weeks I guess. First time I can think of it happening just before a game though.
Anyhoo, as regards the result I think the West Ham game is massive for us. If we win then the start to the season will have genuinely been alright, if we draw its looking ominous and if we lose I may drown my sorrows in a pond rather than a pint glass. Joking. Sort of.
Another season of us lot griping about which team is worse rather than which team is better?