Declan Rice goads West Ham fans with social post after Arsenal win as Gunners get childish

Declan Rice goads West Ham fans with social post after Arsenal win as Gunners get childish

Declan Rice Appears Unbothered by West Ham Fans After Provocative Post Following Arsenal Win

Declan Rice no longer seems concerned with what West Ham fans think of him, judging by a recent social media post made after Arsenal’s 2-0 victory over his former club.

Since his high-profile move from West Ham to Arsenal, Rice has been the subject of intense scrutiny and debate.

Although West Ham and Arsenal traditionally have fiercer rivals, Rice’s decision to push for a switch to the Gunners—despite interest from European giants like Manchester City and Bayern Munich—left a bitter taste for many West Ham supporters who once idolized him.

There’s no denying that Arsenal are a bigger club than West Ham and far more likely to challenge for major honours. While many West Ham fans initially respected Rice’s ambition, they’ve increasingly questioned the logic behind his move.

Rice claimed he left to win top trophies—but ironically, his only major silverware to date remains the Europa Conference League, which he won with West Ham.

His transfer to a London rival damaged his standing with some fans from the start. However, many supporters had since come to terms with his departure, continuing to respect his contributions during his time in East London. That goodwill was evident during previous matches, where Rice applauded West Ham fans and was met with respectful applause in return—albeit with the usual matchday banter.

While clubs like Brighton or Brentford might have used the £105m transfer fee to strengthen their squad, West Ham’s current ownership has failed to build on the momentum of their European success.

Instead, the club appears to be regressing—only adding to the frustration of seeing their former captain play a key role in dismantling them with minimal effort.

Rice played a central role in Arsenal’s dominant win, bossing the midfield and scoring the opening goal. He also reacted to the jeers from West Ham fans with what many saw as a mocking laugh.

To make matters worse, he later posted a photo on Instagram of himself staring down the away fans with a smirk, captioned: “Important win going into the break.” Comments on the post were limited, likely in anticipation of backlash.

Adding fuel to the fire, the Emirates Stadium announcer chose to play “Ice Ice Baby” at the final whistle—a nod to the chant “Rice, Rice Baby” once sung by fans during his West Ham days.

The move was seen as a petty jab, reinforcing the belief among some that Arsenal still view West Ham as a rival despite claiming superiority.

This perceived immaturity did little to soothe the sting for West Ham fans, who also had to watch as former Hammer Mohammed Kudus starred in Tottenham’s 2-1 win at Leeds, assisting and scoring the decisive goal.

Rice may now face a more hostile reception from West Ham fans in future clashes. Where there was once admiration, frustration and resentment are beginning to take hold, as his once-sterling reputation among Hammers supporters takes a significant hit.