Pardew bragged last month "every player at this club has improved under me as manager".
And I'm sure Hatem pissed himself laughing.
Ben Arfa has been involved in two dressing-room bust-ups with Pardew in the last two games, against Manchester United and Stoke City.
One of the many gripes some Newcastle players have is that Pardew lets the French players return home and take weeks off ... as in the case of Mathieu Debuchy, Moussa Sissoko and Loic Remy in recent weeks.
Are they REALLY injured? Why are all these supposed injuries done in training and never on match day?
Newcastle have always tried to be more flexible with Ben Arfa and allowed him trips back to Tunisia to see family as well as being allowed to recover from injury at Clairefontaine in France.
However, this season it appears they feel their flexibility has not always been repaid.
Ben Arfa’s issues at United are understood to have started before the home game with Hull City, when he failed to put in a tackle on George Boyd to allow Sone Aluko to net the winner.
The French playmaker’s lax attitude at Everton, and in games against Tottenham (0-4) and Man United (0-4) have also resulted in the player exchanging words with the club’s management.
However, sources close to Ben Arfa say he is committed to the cause and say: “Hatem knows the fans want to see him in the team. He has not had the chances this season.”
Those sources also claim Ben Arfa could well quit if Pardew stays next season.