Declan Rice has contacted West Ham ahead of the Arsenal clash and it shows pure class from the former skipper.
Some West Ham supporters were – and remain – angry with Declan Rice for pushing to leave for Arsenal.
And the move has created a rivalry of sorts between two clubs who have never really shared one.
That was put to one side by the former Hammers skipper, though, as he prepares to return to the London Stadium for the first time in the Premier League this Sunday.
He will be coming up against a player he could have been lining up alongside in a West Ham shirt.
West Ham boss David Moyes chased Kalvin Phillips for two years, well before Rice left to join Arsenal.
Rice has contacted West Ham ahead of Arsenal clash
Moyes wanted to recreate the England central midfield partnership of Phillips at West Ham.
In the end Phillips has arrived at West Ham as part of the Rice rebuild following the midfielder’s defection to the Gunners in the summer.
It has been a tough start for Phillips in his first two games for West Ham, giving the ball away in each and both times it led to a goal for the opposition.
But Rice has contacted West Ham ahead of the Arsenal clash and it shows pure class.
The former Hammers hero has sent a text to West Ham assistant boss Kevin Nolan about Phillips ahead of his return with Arsenal.
And it shows the measure of the man.
Former Hammer’s gesture shows pure class
“I didn’t know him (Phillips) before he got here,” Nolan said on talkSPORT.
“But obviously heard real good things about him from Dec, obviously me being close with Dec and working well with him for a few years.
“He’s text me a couple of times saying ‘Look after Kalv, he’s a great lad, you’ll enjoy working with him’. And I have, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the first week or so, two weeks and we’ve just got to give him time.”
We only know about that because Nolan has chosen to share it with us.
It shows what kind of person the Arsenal and former West Ham favourite really is. The Hammers have played a big part in making Rice the way he is. So we should be proud of the way he carries himself.
It comes after Phillips himself revealed the big role Rice played in his decision to join West Ham.
He hasn’t been easy for fans to stomach seeing Rice move to Arsenal.
But one man Moyes feels has shown there is life after Dec is Edson Alvarez after he waxed lyrical about the Mexican fan favourite.
