With the season about to start I wrote an article about the possible gamble of a Premier League club choosing to buy Hatem Ben Arfa. The French forward had been linked with a number of clubs, both here and abroad, and was almost certain to leave Marseille for pastures of the greener variety. The abilty that Ben Arfa has is not the sticking point; he is good enough to make in the Premier League, good enough to make it in any league he chooses. But it is the petulant baggage that he carries on his shoulders which may have deterred clubs from making their move.

Newcastle have not been deterred. The canny piece of the deal in which they have done, is that Ben Arfa has arrived on loan, thus if there are any reoccurrences of the misdemeanours that have blighted his career, then Newcastle can wash their hands of him, without any real financial loss.

Newcastle did well to come away from Goodison Park on Saturday with a win. Although Everton are far from their best at the moment, for Newcastle to go away and get three points is a massive boost for the team. There were a few players in particular who shone for Newcastle; Joey Barton continues to impress and rehabilitate, and leading man Any Carroll was good without being spectacular, but it was Ben Arfa, making his first start for the club, who really caught the eye.

The former Lyon and Marseille man, and Clairefontaine graduate, is unerringly comfortable on the ball. Whether it is staying out wide on the left and heading to the by-line, or drifting inside from his flank to get more of the ball, he can be potent in either fashion. His pace and close control make him tough to dispossess, and as Tim Howard is now more aware of, has a fierce strike to add to the heady mix.

It appears Ben Arfa could fill a creative gap that may be lacking at St James Park. As mentioned above, Barton is having a really good season, and Kevin Nolan is a key figure in support of the lonesome Carroll, but Ben Arfa could really make the left-handed berth his own. And for Carroll, having Newcastle’s newest recruit on the left, a rejuvenated Wayne Routledge on the right and Nolan just behind, could provide him with both support and ammunition.

It is easy to see Geordie fans falling in love with Ben Arfa, he is just their sort of player. What money on him running Stoke ragged next weekend in front of the home fans? The only question mark is over his temperament. Joey Barton has obviously had his problems (seemingly all in the past), Andy Carroll is not retreating flower and there is still the Steven Taylor contract dispute rumbling on. Things seem to be going well for Newcastle at the moment, and a disruptive influence is not what they need. Ben Arfa has had scuffles and bust-ups with opponents, teammates and his managers at both his clubs in France – Chris Hughton will have to keep him in check.

Should the promising start to turn sour, then Hughton and Newcastle will be able to move on, and let Ben Arfa head back to his parent club. If his performance at Everton was merely a glimmer of what he will produce this season, thenNewcastle have pulled off a transfer coup.

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Hatem Ben Arfa has been awarded Goal of the Week for this stunner:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=QKqBiCLO_88%3Fversion%3D3