Losing Declan Rice to Arsenal has always stung West Ham fans but even more so this week.
There has never been a great rivalry between West Ham and Arsenal historically.
Predominantly due to a mutual dislike of the other team from north London.
But also because both the Hammers and Gunners have always had similar ideals about how football should be played.
In the Premier League era it has been pretty rare for players to move from West Ham to Arsenal.
Declan Rice changed that when he snubbed Man City to push to join the Gunners nearly two years ago.
The £105m deal was labelled cheap at the time by David Moyes, who repeated his stance before facing his former captain when Everton played Arsenal at the weekend.
Moyes’ claim has been scoffed at in the past. But it was given extra credibility when Rice scored two world class free-kicks in Arsenal’s shock 3-0 Champions League quarter-final first leg win over Real Madrid in midweek.
Rice heroics a bitter pill to swallow at West Ham
Able to look beyond the tribalism and feeling of betrayal, some West Ham fans have celebrated Rice’s landmark moment in an Arsenal shirt.
Others have been left feeling a sense of jealousy – like seeing an old flame you’ve never stopped loving marrying their new partner.
Salt has been rubbed in the wound by claims that Arsenal had West Ham’s eyes out by getting Rice for just £105m.
Most worrying of all, though, is that the Rice deal showed Arsenal can – and will – take West Ham’s best players if they feel they are good enough.
West Ham have already burned through the Rice cash.
The Hammers did a £69m deal with Barclays last summer to borrow against every penny owed to them in transfer fees by other clubs, including Arsenal.
They forfeited £4m of it by way of a fee for the advance.
Now the Hammers board say the club is at its PSR limit ahead of a crucial summer window.
So West Ham better hope Arsenal don’t come knocking for their latest star after his social media post.
Of all West Ham’s £155m worth of summer signings, Crysencio Summerville was among the best.
The flying Dutchman was linked with the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal before signing for the Hammers in a bargain £26m deal.
Summerville felt West Ham were the right next step for his career after Leeds failed to win promotion back to the Premier League.
West Ham must Arsenal don’t come knocking for latest star
The 23-year-old has massively excited Hammers fans this season.
Frustratingly Summerville did not play as much as he should have under the hapless Julen Lopetegui.
Graham Potter declared the electric winger was going to be one of his key players when he took over in January.
Summerville was the best player on the pitch as Potter’s first game got off to a flying start in the FA Cup at Aston Villa.
But he picked up an injury, was subbed off at half-time, West Ham lost the momentum, the game and their most exciting attacker ever since.
Summerville is working hard to get back before the end of the month.
Summerville watches Arsenal and meets hero Henry
With few saleable options in their squad after such a poor season and West Ham’s desperation to raise funds, it leaves the club exposed to offers for players they may not necessarily want to sell.
Especially after the Hammers declared Jarrod Bowen is not for sale.
Arsenal are reportedly looking for a new left-sided attacker in the summer with Mikel Arteta stating he is planning to spend big.
Gunners fans are losing patience with Gabriel Martinelli and – less so – Leandro Trossard.
So West Ham should be mindful that Arsenal are on the prowl for a left-sided wing-man.
Especially after Summerville posted on Instagram Stories about going to watch Arsenal’s win over Real Madrid in midweek. As is his right in his own free time.
Gunners ominously on hunt for new left-sided attacker
And particularly after the Gunners ditched their interest in Summerville’s West Ham teammate Mohammed Kudus.
Not only that but he even met up with Arsenal legend Thierry Henry, posting a picture and caption which suggests he grew up following the Gunners.
“One of the reasons I fell in love with football, Thierry Henry,” Summerville said, alongside a king emoji.
Thankfully for the Hammers, Summerville recently stated he wants to become a West Ham legend amid rumours he may be unhappy with his choice of move last summer.
But as Arsenal showed with the Rice deal, when they come knocking, money – and Champions League football – talks.
Especially right now with the position West Ham find themselves in, on and off the pitch.
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