Crystal Palace’s Yohan Cabaye is good enough to be a part of Arsenal’s midfield, his manager Alan Pardew has claimed.
Palace’s £10 million summer signing was long a player of interest at the Emirates, with Arsene Wenger bidding for the midfielder in 2013 before being beaten to him by Paris Saint-Germain in January 2014.
Though Cabaye never established himself in the French capital his signing has energised Selhurst Park, and the 29-year-old impressed in scoring against Norwich City on the opening day of the season.
His manager has no doubts that Cabaye would have impressed for Arsenal if they had managed to acquire him from Newcastle, and that he would still be good enough to make Wenger’s side.
"Two years ago Yohan wouldn't play [for Newcastle] at Manchester City because he thought he was going to Arsenal so it's quite ironic he's now here with us at Crystal Palace," Pardew said.
"He's a fantastic player, we're honoured to have him and he's definitely the level of Arsenal players.
"I don't think Arsene Wenger or anyone at Arsenal would disagree with that. We have a player who could definitely play in their team and that's a nice feeling for us."
