Arsenal: Five Replacements for Özil

Dimitri Payet, West Ham

A currently disgruntled Dimitri Payet would be a drop off in quality from Özil and he is turning 30 in March but in his favor, he would not have to adapt to playing in the Premier League (given his status as reigning London club Player of the Year) or be expected to take too much time settling at “Le Arsenal” given the amount of French players in the squad.

Payet has long been linked to Arsenal and would be able to fill Özil’s role to some extent and give the Gunners an additional weapon in the free kick department.

Of course, it sounds like at the moment, he only has eyes for a return to his former club, Marseille.  If the Hammers decide they are going to move him, which many pundits like Gary Neville have advised, they will not be moving Payet to another club in London or the EPL if it can be helped.

While he might have a similar skill set to Özil, it is unlikely that Payet lines up for the Gunners any time soon.