Alan Pardew says Crystal Palace's Yohan Cabaye could play for Arsenal
Sunday 16 August 2015 11:27, UK
Alan Pardew says Yohan Cabaye could easily have slotted into the Arsenal team and Crystal Palace fans should be excited by what he can bring this season.
The midfielder was a surprise £13m capture from Paris Saint-Germain this summer and scored on his Premier League debut in a 3-1 win over Norwich last weekend.
He is expected to feature when Palace travel to Arsenal this weekend, live on Super Sunday, and Pardew told Sky Sports News HQ that his signing was a massive coup for the club.
“He was top of our list, not anywhere near the middle or ‘could we get him’,” he said.
“I more-or-less said to the chairman ‘I want him – I know it’s a long shot but let’s really put a lot of effort in to it’ and we did.
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“We spoke to PSG for a long, long time. They didn’t really want to do the deal, they didn’t really think it was feasible and we pushed and pushed and pushed. And to the chairman’s eternal credit, he has brought one of the great players to this football club.
“There wouldn’t have been a problem with him playing for Arsenal. He is here now, 29, in the prime of his career and we are very fortunate to have him.
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“Any Palace fan that comes in will see a moment of class from him and it is just how many moments of class he puts in.
“He will be our brains, will dictate how much we get on the ball and I will be looking for him to try to find a way for this team to win. That’s how important he is.”
Pardew has clashed with Arsenal boss Wenger on the touchline in the past, but says there are similarities between their approaches.
And he says they have both benefitted from supportive chairmen, as highlighted by Steve Parish’s willingness to bring Yohan Cabaye to Crystal Palace.
“Possibly we are both lucky to have boards that give us the agenda to do the transfers, tactically set up the team and to organise what is below, and the way you play.
“I am very fortunate to have that and with Steve Parish and the board here. It’s great for me and it’s been great for Arsene Wenger.
“It is difficult for some Premier League managers in terms of the way some players are thrust on them and the agenda is different but we have grown this year, there is no doubt about that.
“I don’t think anyone that looks at us on Sunday will think that we have gone backwards – I think we have taken a step forward. How far forward we will have to wait and see.”
For more from our exclusive chat with Alan Pardew, tune in to Sky Sports News HQ from 6am on Sunday morning.
JD, proud Stadium Partner of Crystal Palace, are giving fans the chance to win a signed shirt & match tickets on @jdfootball Twitter or visit www.jdsports.com for more from the Undisputed King Of Trainers.
