Hatem Ben Arfa

Infobox Football biography
playername = Hatem Ben Arfa


fullname = Hatem Ben Arfa
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1987|3|7
cityofbirth = Clamart
countryofbirth = France
height = height|m=1.80
position = Left Winger
currentclub = Marseille
clubnumber = 20 [ [http://www.mercato365.com/article_248373_-J-etais-pret-%C3%A0-arreter-le-foot-.shtml J’étais prêt à arrêter le foot] ]
youthyears = 1999–2003
youthclubs = Lyon
years = 2004–2008
2008–
clubs = Lyon
Marseille
caps(goals) = 64 (7)
07 (4)
nationalyears = 2007–
2007–
nationalteam = France U-21
France
nationalcaps(goals) = 01 (0)
06 (1)
pcupdate = June 25 2008
ntupdate = May 27 2008

Hatem Ben Arfa حاتم بن عرفة (born on March 7, 1987 in Clamart (Hauts-de-Seine) is a French footballer of Tunisian descent who plays for Olympique de Marseille.

Olympique Lyonnais

A graduate of the youth divisions of Lyon, he broke through to the first team during the 2004-2005 season, making his debut in the Ligue 1 opener against OGC Nice. He scored his first goal for Lyon during the 2006-2007 season against CS Sedan just before halftime. That goal eventually became the winner as Lyon won the match 1-0.

Ben Arfa became a regular in the first-team playing his trade early in his career as a centre forward, but began operating mainly as a left winger under Alain Perrin's scheme.

Olympique Marseille

On June 28, 2008, Olympique Lyonnais confirmed that a proposed transfer to Olympique Marseille had been cancelled for the time being. [ [http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=552367&sec=europe&cc=5901 Marseille not ready to give up on Ben Arfa] ] However, Ben Arfa told La Provence newspaper on Sunday 29th June that he had signed for OM and would not return to Lyon as expected for training at 15.00 on Monday 30 June. [I won't return to Lyon [http://www.laprovence.com/articles/2008/06/30/501428-Sports-Je-ne-retournerai-pas-a-Lyon.php] ] La Provence later reported that Ben Arfa had in fact missed training in Lyon that day, confirming his intentions. [Ben Arfa misses training [http://www.laprovence.com/articles/2008/06/30/502042-Region-en-direct-Lyon-pas-de-Ben-Arfa-a-l-entrainement.php] ] He officially joined Marseille on July 1, 2008 for £9.5 million, after an agreement was reached between Marseille and Lyon in a meeting organized by the LFP. [ [http://www.mercato365.com/infos-clubs/marseille/article_248265_Ben-Arfa-verra-bien-la-Canebiere.shtml Ben Arfa verra bien la Canebière] ] Ben Arfa scored his first goal for Marseille in a 4-4 draw away to Rennes.

National Team

Ben Arfa scored 16 goals in 22 appearances for France U-17 side [cite web|accessdate=2008-05-11|url=http://www.arsenalpies.tv/2007/10/is_arsene_wenger_looking_to_br.html|title=Is Arsene Wenger looking to bring Hatem Ben Arfa to Arsenal?|publisher=Arsenal Pies] before the triumph at the 2004 UEFA European Under-17 Championship in May. At the finals, played in France, Ben Arfa was a revelation alongside fellow forwards Jérémy Menez, Karim Benzema and Samir Nasri, scoring against Northern Ireland, Turkey and Portugal.

Ben Arfa was offered a place in the Tunisian World Cup squad to compete at the 2006 World Cup Finals held in Germany. He turned down this opportunity, wishing to continue his career with the French national team. [cite web|accessdate=2008-05-11|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/teams/tunisia/4766957.stm|title=French star refuses Tunisia offer|publisher=BBC|date=2006-05-12]

Ben Arfa is eligible to participate in the upcoming 2009 UEFA Under-21 Football Championship and has appeared in one match (a 1-1 draw against Romania) during the qualification phase. He has yet to return to the squad, likely due to his call up to the national team.

He was called up to the French squad for the first time on October 10 2007 by Raymond Domenech to replace the injured Louis Saha and play in the EURO 2008 qualifying matches against the Faroe Islands and Lithuania. [cite web|accessdate=2008-05-11|url=http://www.frenchleague.com/ligue1/lireArticle.asp?idArticle=8970|title=Ben Arfa gets call ahead of Trezeguet|publisher=French League|date=2007-10-10] This move stunned critics of Domenech as they were expected the on form striker David Trezeguet to get the call up. [ [http://www.cnn.com/2007/SPORT/football/11/08/football.france/index.html Trezeguet again left out by France] ] Ben Arfa made his debut on October 13 2007 when he came on for Franck Ribéry in the 64th minute and scored the last goal in France's 6-0 victory over the Faroe Islands national football team.

Ben Arfa was, however, omitted from Domenech's final 23-man Euro 2008 squad on 28 May.

Honours

* Ligue 1
** Winner : 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/07, 2007/08 with Olympique Lyonnais.

*Coupe de France
** Winner : 2008

* Trophée des Champions
** Winner : 2007

* Peace Cup
** Winner : 2007

References