Sometimes in football, players come along and just astound you. Some players have the ability to effortlessly glide past the opposition and curl inch-perfect shots into the top-bin. Some players can find their way out of the tightest pockets of space, nutmegging whom ever dare stand in their way.
These players are rare, their natural talent so raw and uncut that they're a delight to watch on a weekly basis. The obvious examples of these type of footballers are Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Eden Hazard. These players grab the headlines every time they step foot on the pitch; their class so evidently above the rest, wizards of the footballing world, if you will.
However, there are a small selection of players who are almost just as talented as the aforementioned superstars, players that never quite realised their potential within the professional game but were just as pleasurable to watch perform whilst in their prime.
Hatem Ben Arfa is one of the best examples - the Frenchman is blessed with so much talent, can flip a game on its head within a split second, carrying the ball from one end of the field to another, brushing aside bullish central midfielders whilst leaving helpless defenders in his wake before slotting home. Modern art, you could call it.
The former Newcastle man, who also counts Lyon, Marseille, Hull City, Nice, Paris Saint-Germain and Rennes on his CV, lit up the Premier League during the 2011-12 campaign with a string of impressive displays for the Magpies. During that season, Lancashire took a battering by the creative midfielder when he scored two of the best goals that you'll ever see against Blackburn Rovers and Bolton Wanderers, the poor, poor sods. There isn't much more I can say about these goals, just that they're bloody fantastic.
Take a look at them for yourself, because explaining them simply won't do it justice, but bear in mind that Jonas Gutierrez - you know, the striker who before joining Newcastle supposedly pulled out a Spiderman mask each time he scored a goal, but never actually did it in England - compared the goal to that of Diego Maradona's against England in '86, hell of a tribute.
Now plying his trade in his homeland of France with Ligue 1 Rennes, Ben Arfa is back in his comfort zone following an unsuccessful two-year stint at PSG. Seven goals in 33 appearances this season isn't a tragic return, but you can't help but think the 32-year-old has somewhat wasted what could have been a glistening career at the very top had he have continued to perform to the same level as he did in the early days at St. James' Park. Shame.
Anyway, here's a few more of his best goals, they make for great viewing. Enjoy.