Declan Rice left West Ham United to join Arsenal in the summer of 2023.
Rice was excellent for West Ham, especially during his final three years with us, although he didn’t get the credit he deserved from the media and rival fans.
Now he’s at Arsenal, it seems like everyone else outside of the London Stadium is waking up to how good he actually is.
Rice’s stunning free-kicks against Real Madrid at The Emirates last week and then his sublime performance in the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday night made the whole world stand up and take notice.
The 26-year-old is a truly elite performer, but some West Ham fans are still angry that he left to join a rival London club.
Interestingly, it recently emerged that Rice chose not to partake in a press conference before West Ham’s final in Prague in 2023, so as not to divert attention away from the job at hand.
Whatever your feelings on Dec, it’s hard to argue to he ever acted without West Ham’s best interests at heart whilst he was at the club.
West Ham fans erupt after Arsenal podcast host makes Declan Rice claim
The Hammers have have often criticised the likes of Sky Sports for only giving Rice the praise he deserves now that he’s at Arsenal.
On Thursday, Sky Sports had an Arsenal podcaster on the show to discuss the England international’s stunning display against Real Madrid in the Champions League.
“He has this culture and personality that makes it feel like he’s an Arsenal player who has come through Hale End, and that he’s been with the Gunners his entire career,“ the Arsenal podcaster proudly exclaimed.
And the West Ham fans were not happy one little bit with what was said…
One X user said, “Idiotic delusional Arsenal fan!“
Whilst a second Hammers fan said, “He has the culture and personality that makes him feel like he’s been an Arsenal player… and that he’s been with the Gunners his entire career”… the arrogance of this. So Declan Rice has blanked out 10 years at West Ham’s academy and winning a European trophy as captain?“
A third Hammer took to X to criticise the take on Declan Rice from the Arsenal podcast host, “What a dreadful take that is.“
Then a fourth West Ham fan said, “I’d love Declan Rice to win Champions League but Arsenal supporters are so disrespectful that I pray that he fails.“
Meanwhile, a fifth Hammers supporter criticised Sky Sports, “Sky Sports once again giving Air Time to anyone with a microphone and a Podcast. Declan Rice is doing wonders for Arsenal. Just like us Hammers said he’s been doing for years.“
Before a sixth West Ham fan simply said, “Wow.“
And a seventh Hammers supporter was shocked to hear the comments on Declan Rice, “Christ. Unbearable.“
Declan Rice’s replacement could already be at West Ham
The Hammers have never properly replaced Rice, and we’ve really missed his power, athleticism and ball carrying ability in the middle of the park.
However, we do have someone at the club who has those attributes – he just hasn’t played for us yet!
West Ham brought Mohamadou Kante to the London Stadium from Paris FC in the summer of 2024, for around £715k (The Athletic).
Mohamadou Kante is very highly rated out in his homeland, and the hopes are that he will be France’s next big star.
The French teenager has pace and power in abundance, and is well-known for his ball-carrying ability.
Whether he’s actually good enough to succeed at the very highest level remains to be seen.
But on paper, he certainly has the attributes required to fill the void left behind by Rice at West Ham.
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