West Ham fans may feel somewhat betrayed after David Moyes made comments about Declan Rice which Arsenal supporters will lap up.
There was a big West Ham theme to Arsenal’s clash with Everton at the weekend.
The match saw former Hammers boss David Moyes reunited with the man he made skipper of the Irons, Declan Rice.
Rice shared a picture with Moyes which would have West Ham feeling deep regret as the club stare relegation in the face having failed miserably in their succession planning for both.
Rice was one of the best players on the pitch as he helped Arsenal to a vital win which put them back at the summit of the Premier League.
Moyes says what no West Ham fan wants to hear about Rice
The Gunners had been briefly deposed by Man City after their walk-in-the-park 3-0 win over the Hammers.
West Ham were completely uncompetitive for most of the game – a shadow of the team they once were with Moyes at the helm and Rice in the heart of midfield.
What are the chances that anyone goes for a BIGGER fee than Declan Rice? 💸
And how much would you demand for Jarrod Bowen?
Declan Rice of Arsenal celebrates during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at Emirates Stadium on November 23, 2025 in London, England.
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Rice is respected by the vast majority of West Ham fans but burned bridges with some by pushing to leave for a London rival in the shape of Arsenal.
Especially as he declared he was leaving West Ham to compete for, and win, the top trophies in the game with the Gunners.
While clearly a bigger club, Arsenal have never been a guarantee of silverware, whereas Man City and Bayern Munich – who were also both in for Rice – are.
By choosing Arsenal, West Ham supporters were proved right immediately as Rice missed out on winning the Premier League, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup with Man City.
Declan Rice stares and smirks at West Ham fans who goaded him during Arsenal win
Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
The Hammers played their part in ending Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes in both of Rice’s first two seasons with Mikel Arteta, winning 2-0 and 1-0 at the Emirates.
Supporters have been quick to goad Rice for making what they feel was the wrong choice of club if he did want to go out and win silverware.
It is not lost on them that Rice’s last major trophy remains as the captain of West Ham.
Although that could well change this season.
Another sore subject over Rice’s move has been his own game and levels.
There has been a narrative out of Arsenal and some sections of the football press that Rice has only become world-class since leaving West Ham for Arsenal.
Arsenal will love what Moyes has said about great Rice debate
That’s despite the Gunners paying £105m for the former Irons skipper.
It is a claim that puts noses out of joint at West Ham, where Rice had earned a reputation as one of the best midfielders around with his performances for club and country.
Keys is once again talking nonsense about West Ham and Moyes…
What do you make of his comments?
Everton boss David Moyes scowls as his side continue to struggle for form
Photo by PETER POWELL/AFP via Getty Images
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Arteta and even Rice himself have distanced themselves from that debate in the past. Rice told Rio Ferdinand he is doing for Arsenal exactly what he was for West Ham but now more people are taking notice.
West Ham fans feel Rice is the same player he was with them, but is simply playing in a vastly superior team, surrounded by better players.
Well now Moyes says what no West Ham fan wants to hear about Rice and Arsenal will love it.
When Rice was in the process of being sold to the Gunners, Moyes insisted he was worth at least £150m.
Declan Rice and David Moyes celebrate by lifting the Europa Conference League for West Ham after a win over Fiorentina
Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images
The Scot believes he has since been proved correct and his valuation, which was mocked by many at the time, has since been used by Arsenal fans to goad the Hammers by calling the star ‘Half Price Rice’.
Now West Ham fans may feel somewhat betrayed by their former manager.
Because he has insisted Rice has gone to another level since leaving West Ham and working under Arteta at the Emirates.
Moyes even suggested only Arsenal and Arteta have improved Rice, saying he and West Ham had little to do with the midfielder’s rise to prominence.
Moyes: Arsenal and Arteta have made Rice better
“Look, Declan developed himself, it’s not down to me,” Moyes said after Everton’s defeat to Arsenal.
“Declan was always going to be a great player.
“Mikel has made him into a real, real top player.
“But he’s a great boy more than anything, he’s a terrific boy, and because of that it’ll give him a great chance, a great player as well, lots of top attributes.”
That is hard to hear from Moyes and most Hammers fans won’t agree.
Neither does Jack Wilshere after he had his say on the great Rice debate.
It also just gives Gunners fans more ammunition in belittling West Ham over the deal.
Just what the Hammers need as they stand on the brink of the abyss having got things so wrong since Rice and Moyes left the club.
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