It seems like it is a debate that happens every year among the fanbase: whether to bring Hatem Ben Arfa back to the club.
Our former player was released by Paris Saint-Germain at the end of last season and can be signed up as a free agent outside of the transfer window.
Along with Ben Arfa, the Chronicle also suggested a few other names including Claudio Marchisio and Yaya Toure, but much of the talk on Twitter was about the French playmaker:
Undoubted quality but he’s a failure. Had wasted a career when he should’ve been up there with the best
— Kev (@venison_barry) 23 August 2018
Definitely a wasted talent . But to be fair Pardew was the manger at the time . And we all know how rubbish of a manger he is . But it’s never going to happen anyway. Just hope we can have a good season and Rafa gets the best out of what we got. ⚫️⚪️⚫️⚪️
— Chris H (@chrish2113) 23 August 2018
Bring Hatem back … genuine creativity which we badly lack
— Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead (@Lt_Gonville) 23 August 2018
Would love HBA back . Surely he’s a better number 10 than prez .
— Chris H (@chrish2113) 22 August 2018
Would he improve the squad yes . What about shelvey attitude . Rafa has helped him I’m sure he could do the same with HBA .
— Chris H (@chrish2113) 23 August 2018
HBA is a no brainer surely. Cost nowt and offers something we dont have. Creativity skill and directness. Toure also worth a shout surely too. Better than diame. If players offer more than our current lot then get them signed up
— Mark Henderson (@dude1979) 22 August 2018
Some believe Rafa wouldn’t tolerate Ben Arfa’s low work rate:
Our squad is all about work rate and commitment. Hba has neither
— Kev (@venison_barry) 23 August 2018
Perez does more work in one game than HBA does in a season
— Kev (@venison_barry) 23 August 2018
Ditto HBA who has wasted all his talents because of his attitude which is a millions miles off what Rafa demands
— Kev (@venison_barry) 23 August 2018
The former French international can be best described as an enigma. He has undoubted natural ability, but he has fallen foul a number of times with managers due to his lack of discipline.
I could see Rafa being able to keep him on the straight and narrow, but our manager has a strict tactical plan which a player like Ben Arfa, with his flair and instinct for improvisation, just wouldn’t fit into.