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FC·May 6, 2026 10:08 AM ET

Rice credits West Ham as Arsenal return looms: 'Without West Ham, there's no me'

Arsenal star honors boyhood club before reunion.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated May 61 min read
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What happened: Declan Rice spoke to Amazon ahead of Arsenal's Premier League trip to face West Ham, calling his former club one that 'gave me everything' and crediting it for taking a chance on him after Chelsea released him as a teenager. Rice singled out former managers David Moyes, Slaven Bilic, and Manuel Pellegrini, who handed him the West Ham captaincy before his record-breaking 2023 transfer to Arsenal.

Why it matters: The comments land days after Rice was named UEFA Man of the Match in Arsenal's Champions League semifinal win, framing the West Ham reunion as a marquee emotional storyline in a tight Premier League title race. With three matchweeks left and Arsenal still chasing Manchester City at the top, the optics of Rice's homecoming carry weight for both fanbases.

What to watch: Watch the reception Rice receives at the London Stadium on Sunday and whether Mikel Arteta starts him given Arsenal's looming Champions League final. Any rotation call could shape the title chase down the stretch.

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