Newcastle Beat QPR 2 Years Ago To Stay Up - But How Do They Rate Vs The Current Team?

4. THEN: Hatem Ben Arfa - Now: Remy Cabella

Hatem Ben Arfa was and always will be an enigma. During the 2012-13 season he was out injured for large portions, but he returned for the final few matches and clinched the crucial winner from the penalty spot at Loftus Road. So-often frustrating, Ben Arfa could also be breathtaking - and he provided a couple of moments of magic that helped Newcastle remain in the Premier League. The current "Ben Arfa" of the Magpies side could be argued to be Remy Cabella. The £12 million signing from Montpellier has simply not matched up to expectations, however, and Newcastle need to see so much more from him in the final two fixtures of the season.

Cabella has scored once and contributed just two assists all season - and it is that lack of final product that has ensured Newcastle have netted just five times in their past nine matches. For all the negative words that can be used to describe Hatem Ben Arfa, towards the end of the 2012-13 season he delivered when Newcastle really needed him to. Cabella needs to do that now if the Magpies are to avoid relegation. Verdict: Ben Arfa was electric when he wanted to be, definitely 1-0 to 2012-13. Yes Ben Arfa was far from perfect, but Cabella hasn't contributed enough of an end product to allow him to be considered to have won this head-to-head battle.