Declan Rice has revealed it will be “strange” when he plays against West Ham for Arsenal this season after securing his £105million move over the summer.
Speaking to FourFourTwo on Monday (2 October), the 24-year-old midfielder said he still gets on with a lot of the Hammers players and expects them to be saying stuff to him on the pitch when they take on the Gunners on Boxing Day at the Emirates.
The England international added that it will be “brilliant” to go back to the London Stadium and see familiar faces when the two sides meet at the London Stadium later this season.
“It’ll be pretty strange when I play against West Ham this season, because there are so many lads I know and get on with – they’ll be saying stuff on the pitch, I’m sure,” said Rice.
“We’ve got them at the Emirates Stadium first, then at the London Stadium later in the season. It’ll be brilliant to go back there and see everyone.”
Emotional
It will be an emotional moment for Rice when he does play against West Ham after he spent so many years at the club before taking over the captaincy from Mark Noble.
He grew as a player and a person during his time at the London Stadium and is clearly thankful for everything the Hammers gave him over the years.
There may be the odd groan from some fans on his return to East London with Arsenal – as all former players usually get – but the reception should largely be a positive one.
After all, the midfielder did have the opportunity to leave the club before he eventually did, but he remained loyal and went on to lead us to that incredible Europa Conference League success last season.
We will just be hoping it’s not a reunion he will remember fondly on the pitch, though, as the Irons players will no doubt be wanting to get one over their old skipper.