Arsenal are said to be planning a very deliberate timing of the official Declan Rice announcement after his West Ham goodbyes.
West Ham have officially announced Declan Rice’s move to Arsenal and the player has penned an emotional farewell to the club.
David Sullivan has had his say, making it clear West Ham did not want to sell Rice to Arsenal or indeed anyone.
It has not gone unnoticed by Arsenal, their fans and the media that there was no mention of the Gunners in any of the official confirmation statements.
Arsenal fans have been taking great delight in snatching away West Ham’s crown jewel. And the move has cut many Hammers fans deep, even if there has never been a great rivalry between West Ham and Arsenal.
Especially after it became known that Rice had made it clear he ‘only wanted to join Arsenal’.
Arsenal said to be planning very deliberate timing of official Declan Rice announcement after West Ham goodbyes
For many, seeing Rice in the red white of London rivals Arsenal will be tough to take. But that moment is now looming ever closer.
With Arsenal heading to the US on Sunday and an announcement video recorded before the departing Hammers skipper went on holiday to Portugal last weekend, the time – it seems – has come.
Arsenal fans are waiting for the official announcement of Rice. And West Ham supporters will have a keen eye on what’s said too.
But when will it be?
Well Arsenal are said to be planning a very deliberate timing of the official Rice announcement after his West Ham goodbyes.
Word in Arsenal circles is Gunners are planning announcement time linked to Rice’s shirt number
We reported earlier this month that Arsenal are planning to really make a fanfare of the Rice signing announcement to rub West Ham’s noses in it.
Now it is being claimed in Arsenal circles that the Gunners are planning to make the official announcement at either 4.01pm or 4.10pm on Saturday – a nod to Rice’s shirt number 41.
The midfielder is believed to be retaining his number at Arsenal and Hammers News sources claim that was the plan being discussed by the Gunners and their media team.
It remains to be seen whether that is the case – but we don’t have too long to wait.
MORE WEST HAM NEWS
Goodbye Dec: Better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.
Ornstein makes exciting new claim about West Ham move for £40m star.
West Ham ‘confident’ of signing deadly star when Rice money lands.
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
