Dimitri Payet is on the same level as Arsenal star Mesut Ozil, says former West Ham player Trevor Sinclair

West Ham hero: Payet has made an immediate impact on the Premier League
Ian Walton/Getty Images
James Benge29 January 2016

Dimitri Payet is showing himself to be the equal of Mesut Ozil, according to former West Ham midfielder Trevor Sinclair.

The Arsenal playmaker, on course to break Thierry Henry’s record for assists Premier League season, is among the leading candidates to claim the Footballer of the Year award after a campaign in which he has been pivotal to his side’s title challenge.

Whilst it has taken Ozil two seasons to discover his breath-taking best in the Premier League Payet made the adaptation almost immediately, replicating the form that had carried Marseille to the top of Ligue 1 for much of last season and earned him an eight-figure move to the Boleyn Ground.

Payet’s early return from an ankle injury in January has coincided with West Ham storming back towards the Champions League places and Sinclair, speaking exclusively to 888poker.com, believes the French midfielder has had an equally impressive season.

“I think Ozil is a special player, he’s a World Cup winner and he’s been very instrumental in Arsenal’s play this year but I also think Payet has,” he said.

“The fact that he’s come into the Premier League in his first season and been as influential and got as many plaudits as he has shows we are talking about a top, top player.

Player Ratings: West Ham vs Manchester City

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“Arsenal have a superior squad and are going for the title this year whereas Payet doesn’t have as strong a squad around him yet he’s still been exceptional in the chances he’s creating. He works hard for the team, he’s possibly more dangerous scoring goals than Ozil, and I definitely feel comfortable putting them in the same breath.”

With Payet back in contention Slaven Bilic’s men have lost just once in 2016 and held Manchester City to a highly-creditable 2-2 draw in their last match.

West Ham currently sit a point of Manchester United in fifth and a further five away from Tottenham in the Champions League spots. And Sinclair believes that, with a bit of luck, the Hammers could be hosting Champions League football in their first campaign at the Olympic Stadium later this year.

“I don’t think it’s beyond them but they will need everybody at the club playing to the best of their ability,” Sinclair said. “They’re going to need a lot of luck with injuries and obviously for other teams to fall away.”

“A lot has been said about Leicester and whether they can sustain their standard and results and if they fall away there is no reason why West Ham can’t make top four.”

To read the full interview, head to 888poker.com

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