By Damian Spellman, Press Association
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Alan Pardew ordered Arsenal to put up or shut up over their pursuit of Yohan Cabaye after seeing Newcastle snatch a dramatic victory over Fulham.
The 27-year-old France midfielder was introduced to a mixed reaction from the club's fans as a 65th-minute substitute in this afternoon's 1-0 Barclays Premier League win.
Crunch time: Fulham's Matthew Briggs tackles Yohan Cabaye
Compatriot Hatem Ben Arfa proved the match-winner, but Cabaye's future remained one of the main talking points after the final whistle with Monday night's transfer deadline fast approaching and no second bid from the Gunners having yet materialised.
Asked if the former Lille midfielder Pardew had played his last game for the club, said: 'I don't know until 11pm [on Monday].
'We have told his agent, "Look, come on, play the game", because we have got to replace him [if we sell him] and we can't afford to replace him before he goes because we're not sure he is going to go.
'That bid needs to come in, if it's coming in, early. If not, it won't happen - well, I think it won't happen, but you can never tell with this football club.
On the slide: Cabaye (left) tackles Fulham's Alex Kacaniklic
'We have got replacements in mind, but we need to act quickly if that bid comes in.
'We still hope to get an offensive player in before 11pm [on Monday] and we are working towards that.'
Both the Cabaye saga and Newcastle's search for reinforcements are ongoing, but thankfully for the club, their wait for a home win in the league is not after it came to an end at the fifth attempt.
It did so in fitting style with Ben Arfa's superb 86th-minute strike, the Magpies' first league goal in 411 minutes of football, worthy of winning any game.
Pardew said: 'The goal came from Hatem and I was pulling my hair out today with him. He was making bad decisions in terms of his selection of pass, he was not really doing what we want him to do in that wide area.
Brothers in arms: Alan Pardew prepares to send on Newcastle's French midfielder Cabaye
'And then he created three or four moments in the game that can change it, a couple of balls he slid across and we didn't connect with, and then the goal was fantastic.
'That's Hatem. He makes us slightly dysfunctional at times, but he can win us a game at any level and he did that today.'
The goal had been coming, but until it arrived, it looked like being another frustrating afternoon for Pardew and his players.
Fulham keeper David Stockdale had denied both Mathieu Debuchy and Papiss Cisse before the break, and Cisse saw a 78th-minute header come back off the bar before substitute Yoan Gouffran glanced wide with the goal at his mercy.
Golden wonder: Hatem Ben Arfa, (right) produced a moment of magic to beat Fulham
However, Ben Arfa's left-foot bullet after he jinked between John Arne Riise and Alex Kacaniklic sparked a late onslaught during which Stockdale denied both Debuchy and debutant Loic Remy.
Pardew said: 'A lot has been written and some of it has actually not been correct.
'But actually at the end of the day, it's results you need, it backs it up. We have won today, we won in midweek with a few of our squad players and it's been a good week for us.
'If we can get through Monday by improving the team again, whichever way it comes, then we will be in good shape.'
Frustration: Martin Jol leave St James' Park empty handed again
Fulham boss Martin Jol left St James' Park as he did last season ruing a late goal and insisting his team had deserved at least a point.
He said: 'We could have done a lot of damage today and got the points on the board.
'If you look at the possession, we could get out of their pressure. It was almost too easy.
'Last year it was the same, they scored one goal and they are over the moon as if they played great. But they didn't. We should have had at least a point.'
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