What Declan Rice said about Arsenal while at West Ham

As the Premier League gears up for a much-anticipated clash between Arsenal and former club West Ham, Declan Rice finds himself under the spotlight, with past remarks resurfacing regarding his admiration for the Gunners.

Rice, who made a record-breaking £105 million move from West Ham to Arsenal during the summer, has swiftly become a linchpin in Mikel Arteta’s midfield setup at the Emirates Stadium.

The English midfielder, speaking to Channel 4 after his transfer, acknowledged that the prospect of working under Arteta played a pivotal role in his decision to switch to Arsenal, despite reported interest from Manchester City and Chelsea.

However, it’s Rice’s comments from a post-match interview after West Ham’s 3-1 defeat at the hands of Arsenal on Boxing Day in 2022 that have once again caught attention.

Despite his team’s efforts, Rice acknowledged Arsenal’s dominance during the encounter, especially in the second half when the Gunners scored three goals in a blistering 16-minute spell.

Reflecting on the match, Rice conceded, “First half, even though we didn’t have much of the ball, we defended really well, stopped them really well, and had a plan.”

He continued,

“But you can’t sustain that for 90 minutes especially against a team like Arsenal. In the end, one of their chances will create something, and their free-flowing football managed to get through.”

Expressing admiration for Arsenal’s quality, Rice added,

“100 per cent [they can win the league]. They’re a top team, you can see they are coached incredibly well. They have a lot of attacking talent and a young squad, and they could go the whole way for sure.”

The midfielder’s past accolades for Arsenal not only highlight the respect he holds for the North London side but also indicate the Gunners’ aspirations to clinch the Premier League title this season, aiming to break their 20-year drought.