Ben Arfa suffered a broken leg in a challenge with de Jong when the sides met at the same venue in October 2010.
Alan Pardew: "The player has contacted him, which I appreciate as the manager of the other team.
"We have said after the game would be a good time - not before. Hopefully, that will then come to rest.
"I had a conversation with him [Ben Arfa] about it because I think you could carry some demons when you have an injury like that.
"But he was absolutely clear to me that he has no problem about going back there, no problem about facing their particular player.
"What I do know is, a year down the line - and it has taken that long - he is back somewhere near his best, and that's good news for us."