West Ham fans strongly disagree with Arsenal boss Arteta's Declan Rice claim
West Ham fans are not in agreement with Mikel Arteta when it comes to their feelings on former captain Declan Rice.
The England international made the short trip from east to north London this summer when he left the Hammers to join Arsenal for an eye-watering £105million fee. Rice has been nothing short of a revelation since joining the Gunners and has quickly established himself as one of the most important names on Arteta's team-sheet every week.
The former Hammer has started all 10 of Arsenal's league games, as well as all three of the Champions League ties contested so far. In turn, many expected the midfielder to enjoy a well-earned rest for Wednesday's Carabao Cup meeting with his old side. However, Arteta has since admitted it is "likely" will feature in the fourth-round clash at the London Stadium.
"He’s likely. He’s fit and can be involved. It will be his first time back at his old club and a beautiful moment I think for him," the Arsenal boss explained. Arteta was then asked if Rice playing against his former side would actually serve as an advantage to the Gunners.
The Spaniard claimed: "I think it’s beautiful. I had the experience to do it a few times and then you really see what they think of you and what you left at the club. It’s a really good way to measure your experience and your reality within the reality of the people who share moments with you."
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Just what kind of reception he will get whenever he steps foot on the London Stadium turf once again has been up for debate ever since his switch to Arsenal was confirmed. Arteta has had his say and been notably optimistic.
Asked if he thinks Rice will get a good welcome back from the West Ham faithful, Arteta said: "I would say so. I hope so. Especially, every time you hear him talk about West Ham and what they did for him and everybody at the club, he cannot talk any higher, so hopefully they will be the same way towards him."
HAVE YOUR SAY!What kind of reception does Rice deserve at West Ham on Wednesday? Comment below
Declan Rice left West Ham to sign for Arsenal in July and will return for the first time on Wednesday (Getty Images)The overwhelming consensus from Hammers fans on social media disagrees with Arteta's theory. Boos and jeers don't seem to be on the agenda either, with giving Rice the cold shoulder seemingly the plan.
One West Ham fan wrote, when asked what sort of reception they'd give their former captain: "None at all. Bloke wanted out, he's gone. Not our problem anymore." Another added: "I don’t need to give him any reception I gave him 100% support when he was at West Ham now he’s a Gunner he’s just the opposition. My support is exclusively for the boys in claret and blue."
A slightly more diplomatic Hammers supporter claimed: "If Declan Rice plays tomorrow night I think the one thing we can all agree on is there will be a mixed reception. Some will applaud some will boo and some won’t care. Your choice. Let’s just make sure Arsenal are out of the cup at the end of the night and get behind the team."
Time will tell just how well Rice's return goes down, but once that whistle is blown he is unlikely to care about the crowd consensus - his focus will be on dumping his old side out of the cup.
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