West Ham United have not been the same side since Dimitri Payet threw his toys out of the pram to force a return to France back in January.
Almost a year has passed since West Ham reluctantly lost the most talented player to have graced the club in the last decade and arguably the last 50 years.
Replacing the mercurial talent of Payet was always going to be a thankless task for West Ham such was his huge impact and influence on the team in what was their best ever Premier League points return.
The Hammers finished just four points off the Champions League places two seasons ago and have taken a massive backwards step since Payet forced a move back to Marseille in January.
His replacement, Robert Snodgrass failed miserably in a Hammers shirt and it says it all that he is now plying his trade on loan at Aston Villa in the Championship where he is also struggling to impress.
The skill factor Payet offered West Ham not only enthralled supporters but it also helped unlock the door for the East Londoners on many occasions.
So has David Moyes finally found a suitable replacement in the surprise shape of Arthur Masuaku?
The Congo international has struggled in a left-back role for the Hammers since signing last summer.
But he has been revitalised as an attacking winger on the left providing electric pace and skill to help the club turn in better performances of late.
Masuaku put in his best performance in a West Ham shirt in the brilliant 1-0 victory over Chelsea last time out and gave fans a first glimpse of some magic in the team since Payet’s departure.
There’s no doubt on his game Payet was a better player than Masuaku but look at the Frenchman now, a much-mocked figure on the periphery of the Marseille team in the vastly inferior Ligue 1.
Meanwhile Masuaku is starting to grow in the most competitive league in the world, putting in a man of the match performance against the Blues.
The big question is can he bring some consistency to his performances? If he can it may also save West Ham some money in the January window.
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