Given Arfa chance*

After coming through Tuesday's game at Forest unscathed, here's hoping Hatem Ben Arfa continues his rehabilitation from horrific injury this afternoon. While our uncharacteristic defensive fortitude has been very welcome indeed, we've looked far less impressive in advanced areas, crying out for someone with the guile and skill to unsettle opposition back fours.

Neither Obertan Kenobe and Spidermag have exactly excelled in that respect thus far this season, but their places seem to be safe from threat by Ben Arfa, at least (Sylvain Marveaux's strong showing at the City Ground will hopefully result in Spidermag upping his game), with Alan Pardew declaring: "My view is that he can't play out wide. He has not got the relish for it and his best football comes through the middle". Mr T and Yohan Cabaye, superb at Villa last week, are fixtures in the side - so that can only mean Ben Arfa tucked in behind a lone out-and-out striker, presumably Leon O'Best.

In other news you may have missed (we did...), Ryan Donaldson has joined Tranmere on loan. Might a few decent performances bring him to the attention of Bayern Munich?

* One of these days we'll exhaust all of the potential puns - but, for the time being, he remains a goldmine. Feel free to pick us up if we repeat any, though...