Goal of the day: Hatem Ben Arfa (Newcastle) vs Fulham
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Newcastle United recorded their first win, and first goal, of the season as a wonder goal from Hatem Ben Arfa gave them a 1-0 home triumph over Fulham on Saturday.
The Magpies went into the game having not scored a goal in the Premier League since their 2-1 win at Queens Park Rangers in the penultimate game of last season.
Alan Pardew's men began the brighter of the two teams, but the game began to even out as time progressed.
The match, which had been a dour affair, looked destined for a goalless conclusion as Newcastle's search for a goal and a win seemed likely to be prolonged.
But, with just five minutes of normal time remaining, Ben Arfa chose his moment to light up St James' Park with his brilliant finish.
The French midfielder brought the ball down on his chest on the right side of Fulham box.
Ben Arfa then jinked into the box and unleashed an unstoppable left-footed shot beyond the rooted David Stockdale.
He showed to everybody that football is a bit like Poker, until the end you have never lost or win, if you think fast and got a good strategy like the players on bwin poker, you can win until the last second.
"It was a good goal," Ben Arfa told Sky Sports.
"I was trying all second half to score because we needed the win today. I was trying a lot of shots. I'm not sure how but I just hit it and I scored so I'm very happy.
"If we didn't score today we wouldn't have been able to sleep tonight. We've been trying and trying, and today we finally got the goal."
Pardew added: "Hatem had a day today where I said to him you are never going to send me grey as I already am but I am going bald.
"Some of his play was wrong, he made wrong decisions but then he made a couple of right ones.
"He is such a maverick and he is difficult to manage when it comes to structure of your team and it goes to him and your not sure what he is going to do.
"But he has expectational talent and he has opened up the game a couple of times and then he has hit the winner with an absolute pearl of a hit."
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| Hatem Ben Arfa celebrates with Newcastle teammates after scoring the winning goal against Fulham Photo: Getty Images |
The Magpies went into the game having not scored a goal in the Premier League since their 2-1 win at Queens Park Rangers in the penultimate game of last season.
Alan Pardew's men began the brighter of the two teams, but the game began to even out as time progressed.
The match, which had been a dour affair, looked destined for a goalless conclusion as Newcastle's search for a goal and a win seemed likely to be prolonged.
But, with just five minutes of normal time remaining, Ben Arfa chose his moment to light up St James' Park with his brilliant finish.
The French midfielder brought the ball down on his chest on the right side of Fulham box.
Ben Arfa then jinked into the box and unleashed an unstoppable left-footed shot beyond the rooted David Stockdale.
He showed to everybody that football is a bit like Poker, until the end you have never lost or win, if you think fast and got a good strategy like the players on bwin poker, you can win until the last second.
"It was a good goal," Ben Arfa told Sky Sports.
"I was trying all second half to score because we needed the win today. I was trying a lot of shots. I'm not sure how but I just hit it and I scored so I'm very happy.
"If we didn't score today we wouldn't have been able to sleep tonight. We've been trying and trying, and today we finally got the goal."
Pardew added: "Hatem had a day today where I said to him you are never going to send me grey as I already am but I am going bald.
"Some of his play was wrong, he made wrong decisions but then he made a couple of right ones.
"He is such a maverick and he is difficult to manage when it comes to structure of your team and it goes to him and your not sure what he is going to do.
"But he has expectational talent and he has opened up the game a couple of times and then he has hit the winner with an absolute pearl of a hit."
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