Newcastle United will be a team to be afraid of next season, insists Hatem Ben Arfa
Hatem Ben Arfa reckons that Newcastle United can be a team to fear in the Premier League again next season.
And the French international also feels that United have a team to be envied – when they are able to name a full-strength XI.
The playmaker has at last fully recovered from a hamstring injury that has ravaged his campaign.
And his only frustration now is that the games have run out for the Magpies in what has been a season of trials and tribulations.
However, the ex-Marseille star is confident that if Newcastle retain stars like Yohan Cabaye, Cheick Tiote, Moussa Sissoko, Papiss Cisse and Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, they can push for a top-six finish in the Premier League again next term.
Ben Arfa – who turned in a good performance against QPR at the weekend and netted a goal from the penalty spot to bag three crucial points – told the Chronicle: “I think when you look at the individual players we already have, there are some fantastic talented players on that list.
“This season we haven’t been able to play together a lot. We have had a few injuries.
“A few new players also came in during January and needed some time. But when we are all together next season we can really do well.
“Then, we can go again and I think we can have a season like we did last season. Of that I’m sure.”
Ben Arfa missed large chunks of the campaign with a hamstring problem that ruled him out at key stages of the season.
At one point Alan Pardew wrote off Ben Arfa’s season, fearing that only an operation would resolve his issues.
But he responded well to an allotted rest period after United’s 0-0 draw in Moscow in the Europa League against Anzhi Makhachkala.
Against all odds, he then made a much-needed return to action in the Premier League.
A quick glance at Ben Arfa’s top-flight stats this season shows he now has four goals and two assists in 18 matches, and it is clear that his absence has been a big factor in Newcastle’s struggle.
Ben Arfa said: “I’ve always just wanted to work hard and play well.
“I just want to be as fit as I can for the start of next season now.”
Ben Arfa’s lack of fitness in pre-season may well have contributed to his problems this term.
Now the Frenchman just wants to look forward – and while staving off relegation is hardly a major achievement, the 26-year-old said: “We wanted to stay up and that’s all that matters.
“Now we can look ahead to next season.”
Ben Arfa, though, will first be hoping to sign off with a big finish against Arsenal in Sunday’s last game of the season.
The finale will take place in front of another full house, and the possibility of finishing 10th in the table is still up for grabs.
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