TWO weeks have passed since Hull City saved perhaps their most astute piece of summer business until the very last minutes.
The transfer window had closed by the time Hatem Ben Arfa's car drove down Millhouse Woods Lane towards the Tigers' training ground in Cottingham, where the final details of a season-long loan were to be signed off.
Supporters flocked around the vehicle to welcome one last new boy and danced behind a reporter struggling to relay the news over a live broadcast. The joy on Ben Arfa's face was mirrored by all around him.
For a player synonymous with high drama for much his time at Newcastle United, it was a fitting introduction to a new club.
But now begins the challenge of justifying such excitement.
Although Abel Hernandez, Mohamed Diame and Gaston Ramirez all met supporters' thirst for fresh blood after a 2-1 loss to Aston Villa 15 days ago, it is Ben Arfa who sets pulses skipping ahead of tonight's visit of West Ham United.
The 27-year-old comes with a certain reputation to thrill and excite. The unexpected comes naturally for a figure so often branded a genius on Tyneside.
That ultimately proved to be Ben Arfa's downfall during a turbulent spell under Alan Pardew at Newcastle. He finished his days in black and white training with the youth team and has not started a Premier League game since March.
City boss Steve Bruce preyed on that awkward state of limbo with an irresistible proposition on deadline day and now he wants Ben Arfa to live up to the star billing in East Yorkshire.
"There might be a bit of a maverick in him, but there's a few mavericks around here so he's in good company," said Bruce.
"I want him to enjoy playing again and feel wanted and be part of the club and be appreciated for what he's got.
"There is no doubt about Ben Arfa's ability. He has to knuckle down and get himself physically in the right condition because you can't play in the Premier League if you're not.
"He might just have something to prove and when someone has got a fire burning inside them to prove people wrong then sometimes you can benefit from that. Let's hope so."
Ben Arfa's talent is best illustrated by the sense of loss felt on Tyneside. Newcastle supporters chanted Ben Arfa's name during the 4-0 loss at Southampton on Saturday and for those opposed to Pardew's reign, the banished child was the poster boy.
A banner of the enigma depicted as Che Guevara above the word 'HOPE' was regularly unfurled.
Four years at St James' Park only saw the France international make 86 appearances, scoring 14 goals, but the memories of Ben Arfa tormenting opponents became the stuff of legend.
"A year ago I remember when we beat Newcastle (3-2) up there," said Bruce.
"We thought 'How do we stop Ben Arfa?' because he was their big player at the time and he is such a talent. I remember putting Liam Rosenior out on his wing just to stop him.
"He's always been there (as someone I like) and I thought 'Why hasn't anybody gone in for him?'
"They wanted £6m probably at the start of the summer so I kept monitoring it and on deadline day I thought okay."
The deal is a no-lose one for Bruce. Without a recall option available, he has played his last game for Newcastle and his performances for City will dictate the terms of a free transfer next summer.
Ben Arfa has much to prove if his sliding stock is to be reversed and in the opening weeks of his fresh start those chances will come off the bench.
Fitness is the big issue and though he featured in a friendly game at West Brom last Tuesday, scoring along with Ramirez in a 2-2 draw, a start against West Ham is out of the question.
A bigger dilemma for the long-term is where to play Ben Arfa. In a 3-5-2 shape preferred by Bruce, the most natural fit would be central either ahead of two holding midfielders or behind one lone striker. In a 4-4-2 his strengths are best used on the right of midfield.
Bruce boxed clever and said: "He can have a part to play in any formation we adapt.
"And all the signings we have made give us the flexibility to play whatever formation we like.
"It was important we got a centre-forward because we lost (Shane) Long. So we got Hernandez. We sold (George) Boyd and we lost (Robert) Snodgrass to injury, so it was vitally important we had some cover in the midfield area, too.
"Ben Arfa and Ramirez have trained for 10 days, but I won't risk them if they're not 100 per cent physically right."
West Ham United's visit to the KC Stadium marks the start of Ben Arfa's new career and also a new era for City.
Never has Bruce had such a wealth of options and expectations will be for better than witnessed in a 2-1 loss at Aston Villa last time out.
"It feels like a fresh start because of what happened on deadline day, to bring in four players," he said.
"The chairman made available the funds after losing Snodgrass which was vitally important to us. With the loss of Snodgrass and Long, it was important we invested well.
"On paper it looks as if we have done, the proof's always in the pudding so we have to go and perform to the level we expect."
