Declan Rice received a mixed reception from West Ham fans as he returned with Arsenal to inflict another embarrassing defeat on his old side.
West Ham were easily beaten 5-2 by the Gunners at the London Stadium.
It came nine months after Arsenal inflicted a 6-0 home defeat on West Ham in which Declan Rice scored a thunderbolt.
Rice refused to celebrate that goal against his old side.
Ahead of West Ham’s latest pathetic surrender to their London rivals, Rice reiterated he will ‘never ever celebrate’ scoring against the Hammers.
It has also been noted by West Ham and Arsenal fans that Rice refuses to kiss the Gunners badge as he used to when Hammers captain.
The £105m midfielder helped run the game for the visitors as Arsenal cantered to an easy win.
Panto boos and applause as Rice returns to West Ham
Panto season will soon be upon us and Rice got his fair share of pantomime boos.
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He was jeered by Hammers fans when he touched the ball.
The boos rang out when he went over to take a corner in the first half.
Rice responded by clapping the West Ham supporters who used to adore him and they responded in kind.
He held his hand up in almost apologetic acknowledgement.
Now Rice has sent a 17-word post about Arsenal beating West Ham after his panto boos.
The last two games between Arsenal and West Ham have put to bed any doubts Rice has taken a step up by leaving east for north London.
Arsenal's Declan Rice applauds the West Ham United fans during the Premier League match between West Ham United FC and Arsenal FC at London Stadium...
Photo by Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images
‘Always nice’ Rice’s post about Arsenal beating West Ham
Whether that will result in him winning the trophies he said were the reason for his decision remains to be seen.
Initially West Ham looked to have done well out of the Rice sale.
The likes of Mohammed Kudus and Edson Alvarez were signed with the money last year.
And the money helped facilitate another big spend this summer.
But the reality is West Ham have their Rice replacement rebuild badly wrong.
They have signed three ageing immobile central midfielders in the shape of James Ward-Prowse, Edson Alvarez and Guido Rodriguez.
Ward-Prowse was brought in for £30m but was shipped out after just one season.
Alvarez looked decent for the first three months but has been woeful since.
And Rodriguez is the wrong side of 30 and has made little impact with reports he already wants to leave in January.
Rice has reacted to Arsenal’s ‘amazing’ win over West Ham with an Instagram post saying it’s ‘always nice’ to go back to his old club.
“Amazing win today!” Rice said on his Instagram Stories alongside a heart emoji.
“Always nice to go back and see familiar faces.
“On to next we go.”
Declan Rice Instagram post after Arsenal's 5-2 win over West Ham.
Declan Rice Instagram post after Arsenal’s 5-2 win over West Ham.
Hammers failed miserably to replace Rice in more ways than one
It was always going to be impossible for West Ham to replace Rice like-for-like.
But they have gone about it in completely the wrong way.
The Hammers should have signed younger, more athletic players.
The club also has two top young central midfield talents in Lewis Orford and Freddie Potts who surely cannot do much worse than West Ham have had to suffer throughout 2024.
What West Ham lost most when Rice left there was there for all to see in this defeat, though.
Leadership, character and personality.
Three of Rice’s best traits are sorely lacking at his old club nowadays.
Until that – and West Ham’s lack of power, pace and athleticism in central midfield – is addressed then the east Londoners won’t be a competitive force.
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