Declan Rice shared a message with the fans after Arsenal’s victory over former club West Ham United on Saturday.
LONDON, ENGLAND: Michail Antonio of West Ham United chases the ball whilst under pressure from Declan Rice of Arsenal during the Premier League match between West Ham United FC and Arsenal FC at London Stadium on November 30, 2024. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images
Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice returned to former club West Ham United for a Premier League match on Saturday, his fourth match against his old side.
West Ham had edged the results in the previous three encounters, winning in the League Cup and the Premier League before Arsenal finally got a win of their own back in February.
But that third game was an impressive 6-0 victory, with Rice scoring once and assisting two more. It certainly put a dampener on the mood among West Ham fans towards their old player.
LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 30: Declan Rice of Arsenal celebrates victory with teammates Bukayo Saka and Gabriel after the Premier League match between West Ham United FC and Arsenal FC at London Stadium on November 30, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images
Rice was in the starting lineup against on Saturday, and the game turned out more like the 6-0 win than the previous two encounters.
Arsenal raced into a 4-0 first-half lead, before being pegged back to 4-2 by the 40th minute. Bukayo Saka made it 5-2 just before the break, and that’s how it remained until the final whistle.
After the game, Rice wrote on Instagram: “Amazing win today! Always nice to go back and see familiar faces. On to next we go ❤️”
Declan Rice on his Instagram story
Declan Rice on his Instagram story
There was a smattering of boos from the home support when Rice was in possession in the early stages of the game, and a few chants directed his way before his corner kicks.
Arsenal fans didn’t help, responding with chants of “Declan Rice, we got him half price” and “Declan Rice, he left ’cause you’re s**t”.
But Rice has always been keen to avoid any confrontation with his old club, and his Instagram story appears to do just that.
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