Claude Puel, the former Nice boss, who took charge of English club Southampton this summer, has not made the best starts to his new Premier League season. The Saints lost a couple of star players this summer, like every other year, and are looking a side devoid of ideas in front of goal. They picked up a hard fought victory over Swansea in the domestic league last weekend and are placed 14th in the points table, with 5 points from the first 5 games of the season.
They have scored just 4 goals in the process and the manager is already looking at players who can add quality up front to his squad after the transfer window re-opens.
Reports suggest that Puel is eyeing French international Hatem Ben Arfa to add to his squad in January. The 29-year old PSG attacker has not made a bright start to his career at his boyhood club PSG. Born and bred in Paris, Ben Arfa had an outstanding season last campaign scoring 16 goals and picking up 5 assists in the French domestic league for Nice last season. These figures saw the French Champions make no delay in signing the player to add some creativity to the squad. However, Unai Emery, the current PSG boss has currently frozen the 29-year old out of his squad and has questioned his commitment and attitude towards the club recently.
Ben Arfa has been dropped from the PSG squad for the last three games now and it is understood that though he joined the club just this summer, he will be up for sale in January with his former manager ready to snap him up. The 29-year old is an experienced attacker who has incredible technique and some astonishing skills under his belly.
He is a class player who was once touted as one of the best wingers in Europe but his constant failures since his move to Newcastle United back in 2010 has seen the player lose his tag of an exciting footballer very quickly. He moved to Hull from Newcastle where he played a total of just 8 games but his move back to France last summer was one of the few good decisions he took in recent times.
Playing under Claude Puel, Ben Arfa, who always had a problem with his attitude, stepped on to another gear and dominated the French League last season. He was superb in most games for Nice and helped them to a 4th placed finish, also earning himself a call up from the Champions of the country this summer.
Though it looked like he learnt his lessons and has turned a corner, he is once again involved in a feud with his new manager leaving him without a chance of regular football this season. Puel seemed to have got the best out of him and who is to say that he cannot do the same at Southampton?
The 29-year old has played in the Premier League for more than 5 years and will not take any time to get used to the style of play. He is an excellent attacker who will give most top class defenders a run for their money and looking at the lack of decisive play in the final third from the Saints so far this season, Ben Arfa looks a risk worth taking.
He will not cost on the higher side, with PSG wanting to get rid of him, and having just had a brilliant season under the manager, Ben Arfa might yet be able to reproduce his form from the previous season.
The Saints are in desperate need of some shaking up to the squad and this French international might just be the catalyst that lifts them into the top half of the points table. He is not guaranteed to help Southampton in their troubles this season but with the lack of quality in January, Ben Arfa is a player Puel cannot afford to miss out on. Do you think Hatem Ben Arfa will help Southampton and Claude Puel in the Premier League this season?
