Mark Noble settles major West Ham and Arsenal debate over Declan Rice once and for all

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Sporting director Mark Noble has put an end to the fierce debate between West Ham and Arsenal fans over Declan Rice – once and for all.

There was a time when West Ham and Arsenal barely shared a rivalry worth noting.

The Hammers and Gunners have historically shared similar values on the beautiful game.

And of course they share a mutual dislike of another team for north London.

West Ham have even done Arsenal a big favour in the past, beating Spurs on the final day of the season to ensure the Gunners qualified for the Champions League.

Rice move gives birth to more intense West Ham v Arsenal rivalry

That saw bizarre scenes where Thierry Henry and his teammates joined Arsenal fans in signing West Ham’s Bubbles anthem in gratitude to the east Londoners.

Some would say the Hammers did Arsenal another big favour only charging them £105m for ‘half price’ Declan Rice – as he is known among Gunners fans.

Ever since Rice’s move from West Ham to Arsenal nearly two years ago, the rivalry has intensified.

Some Gunners fans mercilessly goaded West Ham over the fact they swooped to snatch away their beloved homegrown captain.

The Hammers have understandably taken great relish in playing their part in halting Arsenal’s title bid two years running with victories at The Emirates.

Much has been written and said on both sides of this relatively new Arsenal and West Ham divide since Rice’s move.

When Rice won the London Player of the Year award last season, Arsenal proudly trumpeted the achievement on their official website.

But it was pointed out to the club by fans on social media at the time that Rice had won the award as a result of leading West Ham to their first major trophy in 43 years.

Arsenal then rather unashamedly claimed all the credit for Rice’s Ballon d’Or nomination earlier this season.

Noble settles major West Ham and Arsenal debate over Rice

There has been a narrative in north London that Rice has only become world class since leaving West Ham for Arsenal.

That put noses out of joint at West Ham, where Rice had earned a reputation as one of the best midfielders around bar none – while also doing it for England too.

At first Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta and Rice himself distanced themselves from that debate.

Most West Ham fans have always felt Rice is the same player he was with them, but was now playing in a better team, surrounded by better players with a better manager.

Now Mark Noble has settled the major West Ham and Arsenal debate over Rice once and for all.

Rice succeeded his mentor Noble as Hammers captain.

The pair remains very close friends – and Rice even joined Noble on a West Ham team bonding night recently, proving you can take the boy out of West Ham but you can’t take the West Ham out of the boy.

Hammers fans have had to sit and watch – with a mixture of pain and pride – as Rice almost singlehandedly led Arsenal into the Champions League semi-finals this month.

He was named man of the match in both legs of a shock 5-1 aggregate win over Real Madrid.

And he produced two stunning, world class free-kicks in a 3-0 win at home which all but sealed the deal in the first leg.

Rice upset West Ham fans when he described his Arsenal heroics as the best moment of his career – despite leading the Hammers to the Europa Conference League trophy less than two years ago.

Noble on whether Rice has improved at Arsenal

After the game pundits, journalists and of course Arsenal fans were declaring Rice had now taken his game to another level with Arsenal.

That’s despite being heavily criticised by many Gunners fans for having a below par season up to that point.

Now Noble has had his say on the great Rice debate.

And West Ham fans might not like what they hear.

“No (I didn’t see those Rice free-kicks coming),” Noble said on talkSPORT.

“But do you know what, though, honestly – he’s been at Arsenal a few years now – but even in training when I was sort of finishing (my career) we’d do shooting and his finishing is so good and I’d always say to him ‘Dec you’ve got to score more goals’ because of how good his strike is.

“I mean look the free-kicks were like special, especially in the occasion against Real Madrid.

“You have a look at him in the last three or four weeks he’s sort of taken his game to the next level. And that’s a credit because it was already so high as it was.”

So there you have it Hammers and Arsenal fans – Mr West Ham himself declaring Rice has indeed taken his game to the next level in north London.

Whether you agree with Noble or not, to really prove he has taken his game to the next level Rice must now go on and help lead Arsenal to Europe’s top honour.

With Arsenal in the semi-finals of the Champions League, many Hammers fans have posed the question whether the club will bank a Rice bonus should Arteta’s side go on and win it.

West Ham’s owners have clarified the Rice Champions League bonus cash clause.