Big Arsenal twist to West Ham team night out as intriguing Declan Rice photo emerges? West Ham will be living rent free in the heads of Arsenal fans if a theory about a big team night out is true.
Jarrod Bowen lost his marker Declan Rice to score West Ham’s winner against Arsenal recently. That moment summed things up for former Hammers skipper Rice since his move to the Gunners.
West Ham’s beloved new captain eluded the man who used to wear the armband with such distinction. In doing so, Bowen helped the Hammers end Arsenal’s Premier League title dreams for a third season running.
Rice was a huge hit with Gunners fans on the whole so far. But it has not gone unnoticed that the midfielder has often struggled to perform when facing West Ham with Arsenal.
Rice has previously admitted he finds it strange facing the club he says he will always love.
Many Arsenal supporters, including those who grab headlines with their ferocious rants on Arsenal Fan TV, have been critical of Rice’s performances against West Ham.
He was hauled off after just 56 minutes of Arsenal’s damaging 1-0 defeat two weeks ago. Big Arsenal twist to West Ham team night out?
One high profile Arsenal Fan TV personality demanded Rice ‘let go’ of West Ham, telling him ‘they don’t care about you anymore’.
Despite being – mostly playfully – taunted and jeered by Hammers fans during their last meeting, Rice delivered a classy gesture to a West Ham star after the game.
It has also been noted on both sides of this particular London rivalry that Rice refused to celebrate against the Hammers.
And he is yet to kiss the Arsenal badge, as he had done at West Ham. So if the Irons weren’t already living rent free in Arsenal heads, especially when it comes to Rice, they might be now.
Because there may be a big Arsenal twist to a West Ham team night out as an intriguing Rice photo emerges. West Ham’s owners say the club is a ‘happy ship’ following the departures of Tim Steidten and Julen Lopetegui and appointment of Graham Potter.
Morale is the best it has been for some time according to those inside the club.
That was evident this week when West Ham made use of their long break between matches to enjoy each other’s company away from the pitch.
West Ham’s players went out out for a special team bonding session on Wednesday night.
Intriguing Rice photo emerges after Hammers bonding session. The whole squad hit the town with manager Potter’s blessing but without him or any of the coaching staff
No wives or girlfriends were present and, unlike some bonding meals in previous years, the owners did not attend either.
There may have been one familiar face and a special guest, though, if a theory doing the rounds is true. Many Hammers fans have been reposting an image shared by Rice on Instagram yesterday.
Rice posted a series of pictures, one of which was a selfie with West Ham sporting director and his mentor Mark Noble as well as celebrity Hammers nut James Corden. The series of pictures show Rice out and about in London.
Image number eight shows him in a lift alongside Noble and Corden as the trio strike a pose. Rice and West Ham linked for life
Many believe Rice may have been a special guest for West Ham’s team night out.
Rice had plenty to celebrate on the night. The evening before he helped Arsenal to a record 7-1 Champions League win at PSV. Mikel Arteta is believed to have given his players a couple of days off after that game.
Perhaps Rice just happened to be in the same place at the same time as the Hammers squad.
The picture may have been taken another time and uploaded the day after the night out by coincidence of course.
But that has not stopped tongues wagging.
Whether Rice did meet up with his old teammates or not, what’s clear is he still very much cherishes his West Ham connections.
