It’s easy to see the similarities between Allan Saint-Maximin and Hatem Ben Arfa.
They’re both French, fantastic dribblers, a nightmare for defenders and fan favourites at St James’ Park.
Ben Arfa was adored at Newcastle. When he was at his best, he was almost unstoppable. His time in the north east ended on a sour note, but he should be remembered for his ability with the ball rather than his departure.
But even though he left the club in 2015, he’s still having an impact at Newcastle according to Saint-Maximin.
“I remember Hatem Ben Arfa played here,” he told the Telegraph.
“He told me to sign. He is a good friend, we grew up in the same area. He had some of his best days at Newcastle and wished he had stayed longer.
“I am here for a long time. This is a long-term project, that is why my family have moved with me. This is a big club with lots of history and we want to get back to the level it was at.”
Whether it was solo goals against Bolton and Blackburn or rockets against Everton and Fulham, Ben Arfa was a player who would amaze the Toon Army with his ability pretty much every time he stepped onto the pitch.
As for Saint-Maximin, his Newcastle journey is just beginning. The winger joined from Nice this summer for £16.5 million, but is yet to have a Ben Arfa-like moment. We’ve seen amazing runs from him, but Saint-Maximin is yet to get his first goal for the Magpies.
Saint-Maximin is predicting a long career with Newcastle, and hopefully it doesn’t end in disastrous Ben Arfa fashion.
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