Mikel Arteta delivers 10-word response to Declan Rice’s West Ham reception after predicting ‘beautiful moment’

Add as preferred source on Google

Mikel Arteta has delivered an 10-word response to Declan Rice’s West Ham reception after predicting a ‘beautiful moment’.

It was a miserable return to West Ham for Declan Rice as his old side dumped Arsenal out of the Carabao Cup with a comfortable 3-1 win at the London Stadium.

A lot of the focus before, during and after the match was on the reception West Ham fans would give Rice.

Ahead of the game Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said he expected it to be a ‘beautiful moment’ and warm reception for Rice.

Mikel Arteta delivers 10-word response to Declan Rice’s West Ham reception after predicting ‘beautiful moment’

West Ham manager David Moyes had called on the club’s fans to welcome ‘impeccable’ Rice back with ‘open arms’.

Here on Hammers News we predicted it would be very much mixed with jeers being drowned out by applause.

And that proved to be the case when he was welcomed onto the pitch as a second half Arsenal substitute with West Ham fans then booing his every touch – in a customary fashion dating back years.

After the game the Gunners boss was in no mood to give his opinion on the matter, though, it seems.

Arteta delivered an 10-word response to Rice’s West Ham reception after predicting a ‘beautiful moment’.

‘Not for me to judge’ says Arteta following mixed Rice reception

“No and it is not for me to judge that,” Arteta said when asked if he wanted to comment on Rice’s reception in his post-match presser.

Moyes and Rice were seen in a warm embrace on the pitch before the game – the first time they had shared one since lifting the Europa Conference League back in June.

Rice has carried on for Arsenal where he left off for West Ham. But he struggled when coming on for the last half an hour at his old club.

He made several misplaced passes and failed to have an impact on the game.

And Rice could only watch as Jarrod Bowen fired a shot which went whizzing past him to make it 3-0 before Martin Odegaard’s consolation goal with the last kick of the game.

READ ALSO

Vice-chair Karren Brady gets huge news after official announcement.

West Ham ask for ‘preliminary information’ to finally sign Antonio heir in January.