Source: Northern_Echo
Everton 0 Newcastle 1
Everton 0 Newcastle 1[LNB] EARLIER in the summer, Hatem Ben Arfa threatened to withdraw his labour for a year if his former employers, Marseille, refused to let him join Newcastle United.[LNB] Thankfully, for all involved, he was never forced to carry through his threat. But on Saturday, as he made his first senior start in the Premier League, he was striking for Newcastle anyway. Crucially, though, it was the goal line rather than the picket line that was crossed.[LNB] Sometimes in football, you have to take a risk, said Ben Arfa, who left the French champions to join Newcastle, a club that for all their early-season success are still finding their feet in the Premier League.[LNB] When I came here, I wondered what I would find, but I am surrounded by some really good players, who will take us far. It is exactly the sort of club I left behind in Marseilles.[LNB] They have the same passion among the supporters, the same sense that the club dominates everything in the city. It was a great experience at Marseilles, although a few of us had to leave.[LNB] Having made his debut as a second-half substitute in last weekend's surprise defeat to Blackpool, Ben Arfa was preferred to Jonas Gutierrez as Newcastle sought to bounce back at the first attempt at Everton's Goodison Park, a venue that had not seen them emerge victorious for more than a decade.[LNB] The result could hardly have been scripted better, with Ben Arfa's fierce long-range strike on the stroke of half-time securing a victory that, temporarily at least, lifted Newcastle as high as fifth in the table.[LNB] Picking up a loose ball at the heart of midfield, Ben Arfa twisted this way and that to unbalance Jonny Heitinga and create a pocket of space close to the edge of the box. Having ghosted into the gap, he then unleashed a vicious left-footed strike that arrowed past Tim Howard and found the top right-hand corner of the net.[LNB] The goal was decisive, but other elements of Ben Arfa's play were every bit as impressive.[LNB] His willingness to commit defenders through direct running was a key component of Newcastle's attacking play all afternoon, and his pace set him apart from any other member of the squad.[LNB] It is far too early to be drawing too many comparisons with some of the club's previous attacking greats, but the 23-yearold's style, energy and ability with the ball at his feet suggests Magpies manager Chris Hughton might have unearthed a worthy successor to previous French wing wizards such as David Ginola and Laurent Robert.[LNB] I hope the fans really take to Ben Arfa, said Hughton, who has engineered a deal that will see the Frenchman's initial loan deal automatically turn into a permanent transfer if he makes 25 senior appearances this season. He has ability, but with players of ability, they also have to work and show it time and time again.[LNB] This was his first game and we're just hoping we see that on a regular basis. But he is something that is a little bit different to what we have and he's a player who can play in two or three positions, which is valuable.[LNB] We're hoping he can be a really good asset for us.[LNB] He was certainly a useful addition on Saturday, as Newcastle outclassed Everton for the best part of an hour, before withstanding a late barrage as the hosts belatedly rallied and attempted to salvage a point.[LNB] Joey Barton had already gone close before the Magpies claimed the lead, forcing Howard into a decent low save from a curling free-kick, and Everton's goalkeeper had also had to display impressive reflexes to prevent Kevin Nolan's cross looping in via a deflection off Heitinga's head.[LNB] With Barton and Nolan running things in midfield, and Andy Carroll proving his usual awkward self in attack, the visitors were comfortably in the ascendancy by the time Ben Arfa broke the deadlock a minute before the break.[LNB] Their winning goal was all about the Frenchman, but the foundation for their victory was established by the other player making his first senior start on Merseyside.[LNB] While Ben Arfa's move to Tyneside was a drawn-out, public affair, fellow midfielder Cheik Tiote might as well have slipped through the back door at St James' Park, such was the unheralded nature of his arrival.[LNB] Yet on the evidence of Saturday's success, the Ivory Coast international could be every bit as influential as his more celebrated team-mate.[LNB] Stationed in front of the back four, Tiote broke up a succession of Everton attacks with some astute positioning, welltimed tackling and diligent tracking back. Signed from FC Twente for around £3m, the 24- year-old, who appeared in this summer's World Cup finals in South Africa, should add some much-needed zest to the base of the Magpies midfield.[LNB] We were first aware of him quite some time ago, said Hughton. If anything, he's been the longest, most drawnout pursuit and the player we really wanted to get. He's a player I identified quite some time ago and fortunately for us, we were able to keep most of the deal very quiet and let it slip under the radar.[LNB] I spoke to (former FC Twente boss) Steve McClaren about him and the reports were positive. It's important not to forget he's a full international player who featured in the World Cup. He adds great experience to our team.[LNB] He helped Newcastle overcome the loss of injured goalkeeper Steve Harper to resist some strong Everton pressure towards the end of the second half.[LNB] The Magpies should have had a penalty when substitute Seamus Coleman clattered in to Nolan from behind, but were grateful for a pair of late let-offs when first Ayegbeni Yakubu hit a post and then Marouane Fellaini shot wide with the goal at his mercy in stoppage time.[LNB] It was a very important win because after losing to Blackpool, the pressure on us was enormous, said Ben Arfa. It was building up. We are so relieved and happy to have won.[LNB] Losing to Blackpool was something we didn't expect. We knew that Everton would be very hard and to have won here tells you something about what we can achieve.[LNB] Scoreboard Goals:[LNB] 0-1: Ben Arfa (45, shuffled the ball past Heitinga and drilled fierce 20- yarder past Howard's left hand)[LNB] Bookings: Beckford (33, foul), Perch (59, foul), Fellaini (63, foul), Enrique (67, dissent), Nolan (69, ungentlemanly conduct)[LNB] Referee: Andre Marriner (Birmingham) Missed a blatant penalty when Nolan was fouled and was inconsistent throughout 4[LNB] Attendance: 38,019[LNB] Entertainment: [LNB] EVERTON (4-1-4-1): Howard 6; Hibbert 5 (Coleman 46mins, 5), JAGIELKA 6, Distin 4, Baines 5; Heitinga 5 (Bilyaletdinov 73mins); Pienaar 5, Arteta 4, Fellaini 5, Osman 4; Beckford 4 (Yakubu 46mins, 5).[LNB] Subs (not used): Mucha (gk), Neville, Barkley, Gueye.[LNB] NEWCASTLE UNITED (4-4-1-1):[LNB] 6 Harper: Had barely broken sweat before Beckford's reckless challenge left him needing a stretcher[LNB] 6 Perch: Defended solidly, but picked up his fifth booking in five games which means an automatic ban[LNB] 7 Coloccini: Continues to look a totally different player to the troubled defender who contributed to relegation[LNB] 8 Williamson: Marked Beckford out of the game and impressed with a series of important headed interceptions[LNB] 8 Enrique: Worked tirelessly up and down the left-hand side and rendered Pienaar largely ineffective throughout[LNB] 6 Routledge: Always lively and regularly provided an attacking outlet on the right-hand side[LNB] 8 TIOTE: Magnificent at the base of midfield, protecting his defence and passing the ball forward well[LNB] 7 Barton: Shrugged off the inevitable flak from the home support and pulled the strings at the heart of midfield[LNB] 8 Ben Arfa: Fashioned a sensational finish for Newcastle's winner and produced a string of eye-catching dribbles[LNB] 7 Nolan: Involved in most of the Magpies' best moves and should have won a penalty in the second half[LNB] 6 Carroll: Gave as good as he got against the imposing Jagielka and spent the last ten minutes defending in the back four[LNB] Subs: Krul (for Harper, 35): Fairly quiet after replacing Harper but made a good first-half save from Osman 6 Gutierrez (for Ben Arfa, 84) (not used): Campbell, R Taylor, Smith, Ameobi, Lovenkrands[LNB] MAN OF THE MATCH[LNB] CHEIK Tiote Ben Arfa stole the headlines, but his fellow debutant was magnificent as a defensive shield in front of the back four.[LNB]
