Ben Arfa talk of the Toon

HATEM BEN ARFA: Is he a special talent who must be embraced by Newcastle United or a maverick who will never adapt to the unique demands of the Premier League? Discuss.

That’s precisely what fans — and his manager and teammates — were doing after the French international scored a goal that vividly displayed his qualities.

With Newcastle 20 minutes away from an FA Cup exit at the first hurdle, Ben Arfa tricked his way past a string of Blackburn players to score a remarkable solo goal.