West Ham United have raised their form of late in the Premier League with wins and clean sheets in each of their last two games.
The first of those victories was a satisfying victory at the Emirates Stadium over Arsenal (22 February), with Graham Potter now figuring out how to build his team into next season.
The all-London showdown was also notable for another meeting with Declan Rice, who swapped the Hammers for the Gunners in a massive £105million move in the summer of 2023.
West Ham fans berated after ‘turning on’ Rice
Since Rice left West Ham for Arsenal, the two parties have traded blows and wrestled the better of one another.
The England ace capped a miserable day for the Irons fans left inside the London Stadium last season when Mikel Arteta’s side ran out 6-0 winners, and was also present for the 5-2 defeat in late November.
However, they have also inflicted defeats on Arsenal on both occasions Rice has been an opposition player at the Emirates, including the recent meeting in which Jarrod Bowen headed the winner and West Ham fans took great pleasure in letting Rice know what they thought of him.
TV commentator Ian Darke, speaking exclusively to West Ham Zone, has branded the actions of the Hammers supporters involved as “disgusting” – reminding them of the service Rice delivered including bowing out with the Conference League trophy.
“I think it’s disgusting, to be honest with you. I really do,” Darke admitted.
“Rice gave fantastic service to West Ham United and was part of that European-winning team. He held the team together for a long time there, and he deserved his move to a team that can play in the Champions League and challenge for the title. I just don’t get at all why the fans should turn on him.
“And it’s not just West Ham fans, you see it all the time with players getting petty and silly treatment when they go back to face an old club no matter what service they gave.”
Hammers midfield improving after poor form
Potter is slowly getting a tune out of his West Ham team, and with the East Londoners having lost Rice over 18 months ago, they have been forced to rebuild their midfield.
James Ward-Prowse is back in the fold under the new manager having endured an underwhelming loan at Nottingham Forest, while Tomas Soucek is glowing in his recent displays.
| Date | West Ham – last five results | Result |
| 27 February | Leicester City (H) | W 2-0 |
| 22 February | Arsenal (A) | W 1-0 |
| 15 February | Brentford (H) | L 0-1 |
| 3 February | Chelsea (A) | L 1-2 |
| 26 January | Aston Villa (A) | D 1-1 |
Summer signings Carlos Soler and Guido Rodriguez have had mixed seasons, as has Edson Alvarez, while Andy Irving is making an increased impact on the side having achieved cult hero status among the supporters.
Over in the Arsenal camp and concerning Rice, the Gunners are now forced to concede the title race is up with Liverpool having moved further clear in midweek, though they remain in the Champions League – facing a two-legged round of 16 tie with PSV Eindhoven in their last hope of silverware in 2025.
