Was Cabaye Wenger's First Choice Above Ozil?

Last updated : 09 September 2013 By Footy Mad - Editor

Ozil has revealed a telephone call from Wenger convinced him to leave Real Madrid for Arsenal.

sArsenal smashed their transfer record to sign attacking midfielder Ozil on transfer deadline day last week in a £42.5million deal.

Ozil had initially pledged to stay at Real this summer after being linked with a move away from the Bernabeu in the wake of Gareth Bale's arrival.

However, Wenger was able to convince Ozil to swap Real for the Emirates Stadium after winning him over with his plans for the 24-year-old.

Mesut Ozil: "Somehow this telephone call just flicked a switch in me.

"I thought: 'What he is telling me is what I have missed at Real: transparency, trust, respect.'

"He told me exactly how he sees me [as a player], how he wants to use me, what he expects from me and what he hopes I will contribute.

"The transfer fee has nothing to do with me. I would have joined Arsenal on a free."

One man looking 'in' from the 'outside' is Newcastle's Cabaye, who went on strike for three games because he wanted to be part of Arsenal's future.

It blew up in his face because Mike Ashley wanted DOUBLE the fee Wenger was prepared to offer, and according to reports today in one natiional newspaper Wenger only saw Cabaye as "a squad player".

With Cabaye being told he would have to play regular football to make the French World Cup squad next summer ... perhaps his stay at Newcastle is all for the best.

Sadly ... he has to win back the support from the fans!

NEWCASTLE UTD RESULTS

PREMIER LEAGUE

NEWCASTLE 1 FULHAM 0 (Ben Arfa)
Krul, Debuchy, Yanga-Mbiwa, Coloccini, Santon, Ben Arfa, Sissoko, Anita 65' (Cabaye), Marveaux 74' (Remy), Shola Ameobi 65' (Gouffran), Cisse
Subs: Gosling, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi, Dummett

NEWCASTLE 0 WEST HAM 0
Krul, Debuchy, Yanga-Mbiwa, Coloccini, Santon, Ben Arfa, Sissoko, Anita, Marveaux 66' (Sammy Ameobi), Shola Ameobi, Cisse 72'
Subs: Gosling, Bigirimana, Elliot, Vuckic, Dummett

MAN CITY 4 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Debuchy, Coloccini, S Taylor, Yanga-Mbiwa, Sissoko, Tiote, Gouffran 45+4' (Dummett), Ben Arfa 65' (Sammy Ameobi), Gutierrez 44' (Anita), Cisse
Subs: Elliot, Marveaux, Shola Ameobi, Obertan

LEAGUE CUP

MORECAMBE 0 NEWCASTLE 2 (Shola Ameobi, Sammy Ameobi)
Elliot, Debuchy, Yanga-Mbiwa, Good, Dummett, Bigirimana, Gosling, Marveaux 88' (Sissoko), Vuckic 46' (Shola Ameobi), Sammy Ameobi, Gouffran 71' (Ben Arfa)
Subs: Santon, Anita, Alnwick, Streete

NU-MAD - WE TELL IT AS IT IS!

Join us on Facebook

l

PLEASE join Newcastle Utd-Mad on Facebook:-
 
Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Newcastleutd-mad/199695536844554

NEWCASTLE UTD 1 FULHAM 0

    1. Tim Krul
    26. Mathieu Debuchy
    13. Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa
    2. Fabricio Coloccini
    3. Davide Santon
    10. Hatem Ben Arfa
    7. Moussa Sissoko
    8. Vurnon Anita 65'
    22. Sylvain Marveaux 74'
    23. Shola Ameobi 65'
    9. Papiss Cisse

Subs

    4. Yohan Cabaye 65'
    11. Yoan Gouffran 65'
    14. Loic Remy 74'
    15. Dan Gosling
    21. Rob Elliot
    28. Sammy Ameobi
    36. Paul Dummett

Hatem Ben Arfa ended Newcastle's wait for a Barclays Premier League goal after 411 minutes to hand Alan Pardew a precious victory over Fulham.

The France international produced a piece of individual magic four minutes from time to create half a yard of space and rifle a stunning left-foot shot past the helpless David Stockdale to claim a first league win of the season.

Until his last-gasp intervention, it looked like being another frustrating afternoon for Pardew and his players as chances came and went without the deadlock being broken.

Papiss Cisse saw a 78th-minute header come back off the crossbar and Yoan Gouffran, who passed up a glorious opportunity against West Ham last weekend, glanced a header harmlessly wide with the goal with his mercy after Yohan Cabaye had been introduced to a mixed reception as a second-half substitute.

But Ben Arfa's inspiration proved enough to send Newcastle into the international break with the win they craved, although with Cabaye's future unresolved and a desperate search for reinforcements ongoing.

Newcastle dominated for long periods as Fulham arrived prepared to soak up what pressure their hosts could muster and then hit them on the break.

However, the killer instinct which has deserted since the end of last season continued to be conspicuous by its absence as a series of openings, albeit few of them clear-cut, went begging.

Mathieu Debuchy and Cisse were both denied by Stockdale before the break, and the keeper did well to claim Ben Arfa's deflected 62nd-minute effort.

Pardew sent on loan signing Loic Remy, the only new face to arrive at St James' Park so far this summer, with 16 minutes remaining, and his arrival prompted a fresh assault on the Fulham goal, although ultimately to no avail.

And it might have been even worse for the 52-year-old when Adel Taarabt was presented with the ball by Fabricio Coloccini 15 yards out, although keeper Tim Krul, who had earlier clawed away Bryan Ruiz's goal-bound free-kick, saved once again.

NEWCASTLE UTD FIXTURES

j

Saturday September 14
15:00 Premier League
Aston Villa v Newcastle United

Saturday September 21
15:00 Premier League
Newcastle United v Hull City

Wednesday September 25
19:45 League Cup - 3rd Rnd
Newcastle United v Leeds United

Monday September 30
20:00 Premier League
Everton v Newcastle United

Saturday October 5
15:00 Premier League
Cardiff City v Newcastle United

Saturday October 19
12:45 Premier League
Newcastle United v Liverpool

Sunday October 27
16:00 Premier League
Sunderland v Newcastle United