Cold hard proof that life after Declan Rice is better for West Ham and Tomas Soucek following Arsenal switch

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There is now cold hard proof that life after Declan Rice is better for West Ham and Tomas Soucek following Arsenal switch.

The elephant in the room is finally being openly discussed concerning West Ham star Tomas Soucek following Declan Rice’s departure to Arsenal.

At the weekend it was two years ago to the day that Hammers News became the first to speak out about David Moyes’ decision to pander to Rice and change the dynamic between he and Soucek in West Ham’s midfield.

So it was apt that the big Czech fan favourite scored his third goal in his last three starts as the Hammers drew 2-2 with Newcastle.

There has been much talk – and scapegoating – around Soucek.

Tom is feeling super again after Rice’s move to Gunners

The towering midfielder does a major job for West Ham defensively, especially aerially. But he is not a defensive midfielder and never has been. He is a box-to-box midfielder who keeps things simple, progresses the play and times his runs into the box in search of goals.

It was no coincidence that his goal threat diminished considerably when Rice was given the freedom to rampage up and down the pitch.

But the new Arsenal fan favourite does not carry the same goal threat as Soucek.

He didn’t say it directly – because he didn’t need to – but Soucek spoke out recently to admit he struggled to motivate himself after being forced to sacrifice his natural game as Moyes gave Rice licence to roam.

Fans can see with their own eyes that Soucek is much more like his old self now he is playing in his natural position following Rice’s £105m move to Arsenal.

Cold hard proof that life after Declan Rice is better for West Ham and Tomas Soucek following Arsenal switch

But if you want some statistics to back it up then help is at hand.

Here’s cold hard proof that life after Rice is better for West Ham and Soucek following his Arsenal switch.

Thanks to stattos at BBC Sport, we now have irrefutable evidence that life after Dec is sweeter for Soucek now he’s joined the Gunners.

Because it has been revealed that Soucek has scored in consecutive Premier League games for West Ham for the first time since December 2020.

That’s nearly three years ago.

And he has now scored as many goals in his last two league games for the Hammers as he had in his previous 45 – yes FORTY-FIVE – matches. Some stat that.

Rice was a superb player and servant for West Ham during his time here. But Soucek was scandalously slandered in some quarters.

Dec a wonderful West Ham servant and player but Souck looks reborn after stepping out of his shadow

To his credit Hammers boss Moyes later admitted changing the Rice and Soucek dynamic did not work and impacted the latter’s form.

Carlton Cole said it best recently when he spoke up on Soucek’s behalf and criticised Rice for his comments since joining Arsenal.

So last word goes to the Hammers youth coach on this one.

Cole said: “There were a lot of players that don’t get the respect that Decs gets (for last season). Dec was a great player, brought in £105m for us but there are other players as well, never forget that. Players that did help him as well be who he is.

“Soucek goes underrated. He took a lot of flak last season and Declan was the golden child. But Soucek had to sit (to accommodate Rice) which wasn’t actually his game.”

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