Colo has been on his sick bed for weeks now, and Pardew lashed out at Ben Arfa this week saying "we need more than we are getting from Hatem."
So ... what is the story with Ben Arfa?
He spoke on Friday about starting against Chelsea in Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off, but he didn't even get on the field as substitute!
Ben Arfa insists the players were hurting in the dressing room after the 2-1 loss at the Stadium of Light, and he wanted to put it right.
But did Pardew put a large portion of BLAME on the Frenchman's shoulders?
Ben Arfa: “After Sunderland, we were disappointed.
“In the dressing room, it was terrible, because we knew how important the game was for the fans.
“It was important to play well. We feel for the fans.
“For us, every game is about three points, but know how important the Sunderland game was for our fans.
“The most important thing now is the league, and I think we can be high in the table at the end of the season.
“We want to win something for the fans. That’s why we’re frustrated. In our minds, we want to win something. For a long time they have had nothing.
“I hope we will play to win the FA Cup.”
Alan Pardew: "I'm not happy with his mixed displays.
"The truth with Hatem is that we need a consistency in his play, and that's what we are searching for in the team.
"The decision-making process of Hatem is sometimes crucial, taking players on or playing it quickly.
"It's that balance that we are trying to get in the team that's right for Hatem and right for us."
Ben Arfa is, as Pardew says, a maverick ... and rarely does he look a team player.
The player talks about seeing himself in the same frame as Lionel Messi, but he needs a reality check.
And Pardew could do him the world of good by pointing out he is nowhere near as good as he thinks he is!
Source: Newcastle United Mad
Source: FOOTYMAD
