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.
The 24-year-old midfielder stated he still gets along with many of the Hammers players and anticipates them joking around with him on the field when they play the Gunners on Boxing Day at the Emirates in an interview with FourFourTwo on Monday (2 October).
When the two teams play off at the London Stadium later this season, the England international said it will be “brilliant” to return and see old friends.
As Rice noted, “There are so many lads I know and get along with — they’ll be saying something on the pitch, I’m sure — it’ll be really bizarre when I play against West Ham this season.
“We have them in the Emirates Stadium first, then later in the season at the London Stadium. To return and see everyone there will be fantastic.
After spending so many years with the club before taking over the captaincy from Mark Noble, Rice will have emotion when he does play against West Ham.
During his time at the London Stadium, he developed both as a player and a person, and he is obviously appreciative of everything the Hammers have done for him.
As with many past players, there might be the occasional sigh from some supporters when he returns to East London with Arsenal, but overall, the reaction ought to be favorable.
The midfielder did, after all, have the option to leave the team before he ultimately did, but he stayed faithful and helped us win the wonderful Europa Conference League last season.
The Irons players will undoubtedly want to humiliate their former captain, so we can only hope that it won’t be a reunion he will cherish on the field.
