In the space of around five minutes, Simon Jordan managed to reduce Declan Rice to the level of West Ham United misfit James Ward-Prowse, downplay his influence on Arsenal, and suggest that Champions League free-kicks against Real Madrid should be the expectation.
It is not often the fans of West Ham United and Arsenal are united in the same cause.
But as jibes fly in Simon Jordan’s direction from both the North and the East of the capital, it is probably fair to say that the former Crystal Palace chairman is on his lonesome when it comes to his questioning of Declan Rice.
Rice was greeted by taunts from the West Ham fans during the recent London derby clash at the Emirates Stadium. And, when opening the scoring for Mikel Arteta’s side, the triumphant glare he aimed towards his critics in claret and blue said more than words ever could.
Yet, just because his departure tainted Rice’s legacy somewhat among sections of the Hammers support, that does not mean they are willing to let Jordan twist history to suit a false narrative.
Simon Jordan questions Declan Rice despite former West Ham United hero’s Arsenal brilliance
Speaking on talkSPORT, the former Crystal Palace chairman-turned-motormouth pundit not only suggested that Rice would struggle to elevate a less-talented crop of players – West Ham’s Conference League-winning campaign in 2023 tells a very different tale – he also suggests that the much-maligned Ward-Prowse is equally capable of leaving Thibaut Courtois grasping at thin air.
Presumably, he doesn’t factor in that Rice scored more free-kicks in 12 minutes against the fifteen-time European champions than Ward-Prowse has in his last 80 Premier League outings.
“I wonder how much he’d stand out in a very poor side. The fact that Declan Rice stands out in a good side is a testament to Arsenal being a good side,” Jordan said.
“Rice I remember watching him for England [a couple of years ago]; sideways and back, sideways and back, sideways and back, sideways and back. Do I think that Declan Rice has a clever ball in him like someone like an [Andrea] Pirlo? No, I don’t.
“But do I think he’s a great footballer.
“Graham [Souness, back in 2023 when drawing those Pirlo comparisons] was talking about a certain aspect of his game that potentially we still haven’t yet seen, which is that clever ball. Do we think he’s got a Kevin De Bruyne outlook? No.
“He’s a powerful and very very strong footballer that drives people forward. There’s an element of Steven Gerrard about him in terms of pulling the team forward. But I don’t disagree with a lot of what Graeme said.
“We went on to see those two memorable free kicks against Real Madrid. But that’s a free kick. He’s a set-piece king. That’s a free kick. A £100 million footballer. Let’s have it right, that’s what he should be able to do.
“Can he hit a free kick? Can he hit a dead ball? Absolutely. So can James Ward Prowse.”
West Ham fans hit back as they defend ‘world-class’ Rice
Now, one of the great frustrations among West Ham fans is the claim that it was Arsenal who transformed Declan Rice into an elite-level operator.
While he has certainly unlocked a knack for devastating set-pieces, and while his goal contributions have also increased, the Rice who runs the show for the Gunners is not too far removed from the one who captained the Hammers to a European trophy.
“He played for a poor side, and led us to a European trophy,” one supporter writes on X in response to Jordan’s rather puzzling assessment. “He’s always been world-class, [ever] since he first came into the first team at West Ham. Just people didn’t believe it because he was at West Ham.”
“His early seasons and his last season in the league, we were [bad]. He always stood out and was so phenomenal every week,” another agrees. “
“We’ve massively struggled to replace him. And there were certain players who simply played better having Rice in the team, who obviously when Rice left, you could see performances drop.”
“He literally did stand out in a poor side for years. What are you talking about?”
“Jordan demonstrating yet again why his take on things on the pitch is uninformed at best.”
“Rice is pure class one of the best midfielders in the world.”
“As a West Ham fan, I can confirm James Ward-Prowse can’t hit a dead ball well nor score a free-kick.”
“He literally carried my club – a relegation battling West Ham – to an invincible Conference League trophy.”
Declan Rice may not be a West Ham hero these days, but that does not mean his contributions are no longer appreciated.
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