Hatem Ben Arfa is currently enduring a challenging phase at Newcastle United. Amid rumors of an impending departure and reports suggesting his potential dismissal, the French midfielder was notably absent from the squad during Monday evening’s heavy defeat against Arsenal (3-0).
This difficult period marks a low point for the former Lyon player. However, Newcastle’s coach, Alan Pardew, stated that Ben Arfa’s omission from the match wasn’t directly related to his situation. “He’s in good shape, but I’m selecting the team based on what will yield the best result,” Pardew remarked after the game, as reported by the Newcastle Chronicle. Nonetheless, it remains uncertain whether this explanation will suffice to quell the ongoing controversy surrounding Ben Arfa’s situation.
Tags: Alan Pardew, England, France, Hatem Ben Arfa, Newcastle, Premier League
