Newcastle Transfers: 8 Reasons Why Hatem Ben Arfa May Have To Be Sold

4. Newcastle Look More Balanced Without Ben Arfa

Pardew is a big fan of possession based football with short quick interplay. As good as Ben Arfa is, does he really fit into that? It isn't stretching the truth to suggest that the Frenchman can be greedy at times, and in the past couple of weeks, particularly against Chelsea, an attack of Remy, Gouffran, Cabaye, Sissoko, Anita, and Ameobi worked wonders. Cabaye in particular is a wonderful technician, but he is no dribbler, and that is exactly the kind of player that sometimes makes for a more cohesive and functioning attack. When Newcastle faced Hull at home, Ben Arfa came into the match having swept all before him at Villa Park, and was expected to carry on that form in front of an expectant home crowd. In reality, he tried to do too much - leading attack after attack to break down, and eventually Hull triumphed 3-2. Pardew may yet decide the Magpies' future lies in the hands of more reliable players. That may anger some fans, and lead to less flashes of individual brilliance, but the team is more important, and if Newcastle can continue their good form without Ben Arfa, he may not be such a huge loss.