As the fourth round of the EFL Cup gets underway this week, West Ham welcome Arsenal to the London Stadium and the return of an old friend, Declan Rice, in what Mikel Arteta hopes will be “a beautiful moment” for his midfielder.
After making his move to the London club in the summer, this will be the first time Rice has returned to his old stomping ground where he achieved so much. Speaking in the pre-match press conference ahead of the match, Arteta spoke positively about the return for Rice.
He said: “It will be his first time back at his old club and a beautiful moment for him, I think.
“I think it is beautiful [returning to your old club].
“I had a chance to do it a few times, and then you really see what they think of you and what you left at the club.”
After continuing his fantastic form now at the Emirates, Arteta spoke of how highly Rice speaks of his old club and is hopeful of a warm reception for his player, who has been the utmost professional when moving sides.
“Every time you hear him talk about West Ham and what they did for him and everybody at the club, he cannot talk any higher of them.
“Hopefully, they will be the same way towards him.
“It is a really good way to measure your experience and your reality within the reality of people that share moments with you.”
