talkSPORT pundit Danny Murphy has lifted the lid on what Declan Rice told him outside a cafe about leaving West Ham for Arsenal.
Just because West Ham fans have long known that captain Declan Rice would be leaving this summer doesn’t make his imminent move to London rivals Arsenal any easier to take.
The Gunners will pay a British record £105m for the Hammers captain in a move that many West Ham fans find hard to stomach.
While there is no great rivalry between West Ham and Arsenal, Hammers supporters have made it clear they would have found it much more palatable had Rice joined Manchester City or a foreign club.
Rice’s medical to complete the move to the Emirates is imminent.
Vast majority will wish Rice well but push for Gunners move has put some noses out of joint
The vast majority of West Ham fans will wish Rice well when he departs for Arsenal this weekend.
He leaves a wonderful legacy at West Ham United which culminated in the perfect send off as he led the club to Premier League safety and a first major trophy for 43 years.
But his push to join a London rival has not gone down well with certain factions of the West Ham fanbase.
Particularly after it was claimed by a Sky Sports reporter this week that Rice has had his heart set on a move to the Emirates since February and particularly the prospect of working with Mikel Arteta.
talkSPORT pundit Danny Murphy lifts lid on what Declan Rice told him outside cafe about leaving West Ham for Arsenal
There was an unsavoury message daubed on a poster of Rice labelling him a ‘Judas’ ahead of the move.
Now a former Premier League midfielder turned pundit has tried to explain the rationale behind Rice’s desire to join the Gunners having spoken to him in private at the weekend.
talkSPORT pundit Danny Murphy has lifted the lid on what Rice told him outside a cafe about leaving West Ham for Arsenal.
Murphy was speaking on the FIVE YouTube channel having bumped into the departing Hammers skipper.
‘He can’t wait to get to Arsenal, he said Arteta was magic’
“I’ve got to say, it’s worth saying I saw Dec on Sunday at the cafe by mine,” Murphy said.
“He was outside, I popped out to see him. And we were chatting, and he was buzzing.
“He couldn’t wait to get to Arsenal. He said Arteta was magic when he met him.”
Those comments will not go down well with many West Ham supporters.
But any West Ham fans feeling betrayed or angry over the move should perhaps read or re-read Oliver Holt’s excellent column praising our supporters and Rice for the rare loving farewell and dignity around his departure.
People are entitled to feel aggrieved, let down or disappointed. But let’s maintain some perspective here and handle the situation with class.
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