West Ham will come up against their former skipper, Declan Rice this Saturday.
Declan Rice’s move from West Ham to Arsenal was one of the most talked-about transfers of 2023. After captaining West Ham to Europa Conference League glory and making over 200 appearances for the club, Rice joined Arsenal for a record £105 million fee. Despite the magnitude of the move, Rice has consistently expressed deep respect for West Ham, calling the decision to leave “the hardest” of his career and vowing never to celebrate against the club he joined at the age of 14.
A horrified Rice looks on as Bowen scores
Since his transfer to the Gooners, Rice has played five matches against West Ham in Arsenal colours, with mixed results.
In November 2023, West Ham won 3-1 in the EFL 4th Round, with goals from Kudus, Bowen and a Ben White own goal. Rice was a substitute, coming on for Jorginho on 57 minutes.
Hammers hit the dizzy heights of sixth spot after Emirates victory
The following month West Ham registered a 2-0 win at the Emirates, with goals from Soucek and Mavropanos, their third successive Premier League victory, propelling the Hammers to sixth place.
In 2024, Arsenal exacted revenge with a 6-0 win in February at the London stadium, and a November 5-2 win the following season.
In the February 2024 demolition, Rice was instrumental. He assisted two goals from corners and capped the performance with a 25 yard-curler against his former side. True to his word, he did not celebrate.
In February 2025, West Ham under Graham Potter achieved a 1-0 win, with Jarrod Bowen scoring from an assist by Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Declan hasn’t had it all his own way since leaving West Ham
Despite West Ham winning three of the five encounters since his departure, Rice’s standout performance in the February 2024 fixture marked a turning point, showcasing his growth and leadership at Arsenal.
Rice has spoken candidly about the emotional weight of playing against West Ham. “I always said I would never celebrate against West Ham, and I don’t think I ever will. They made me who I am,” he said after scoring in the 6–0 win.
As Arsenal continue their push for Premier League and European glory, Rice remains a pivotal figure in Mikel Arteta’s setup. Hammers fans will hope Rice will not rise to the occasion against the club that shaped his career, and that Nuno can pull off a victory, to keep West Ham ahead since Rice pulled on a red and white jersey.
The bookies are suggesting there will only be one winner, yet odds of 13-1 on a West Ham win do look tempting!