Despite scoring two goals in as many games in Euro 2016, Arsene Wenger insists that Dimitri Payet hasn’t always been this consistent.

The boss claims that he almost signed the West Ham man a few times during his career but his lack of consistency put him off.

“Yes [I thought of signing him],” Wenger told Konbini.

“Often. Very often, i have to say that I asked myself that question during my career.

“And I also have to say that I decided against it because he was not consistent.

“I have never doubted that he had enough talent to play in my team.

“I have been lucky enough in my club to always have very good players in his position and it was crowded!”

540687050 dimitri payet of france looks on during the gettyimages
MARSEILLE, FRANCE – JUNE 15: Dimitri Payet of France looks on during the UEFA Euro 2016 Group A match between France and Albania at Stade Velodrome on June 15, 2016 in Marseille, France. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

Before he was with the Hammers, he played for Ligue 1 club Marseille and while there, scored 15 goals in two years.

Before that, at Lille, he scored 19 in the same amount of time. 25 at Saint-Etienne in four. So, overall, his numbers are consistent. However, looking at when he scored, he would go months without a goal, only to score in four games on the bounce. This, I imagine, is what Wenger is referring to.

It was only at West Ham that he began to really iron out these kinks and even then, the Frenchman didn’t score from the 2nd of April onward.

Compare this to Mesut Ozil and, fair enough, the German doesn’t seem much better in terms of goalscoring. In fact, Mesut looks worse if you just looked at his stats. He may have assisted 19 but Payet only assisted four less.

Now, I’m by no means saying that Payet is on Mesut’s level. Not at all. However, he wouldn’t be a bad little signing…