BBC Sport pundit rages at what West Ham United fans did to Arsenal star Declan Rice
BBC Sport pundit Michael Brown has told West Ham fans to leave Declan Rice alone after they jeered him at the London Stadium.
The midfielder was back in East London as Arsenal met the Hammers in a Premier League clash on Sunday (11 February).
The England international left West Ham for the Gunners last summer, having made almost 250 appearances for the former.
“I don’t get the Declan Rice boos, I don’t know whether it’s just a fun thing to try to put him off his game,” Brown said on BBC Radio 5 Live (2.03pm, 11 February). “Just leave him alone, what a player he was for West Ham and a great servant for them.”
West Ham fans boo Declan Rice
It certainly wasn’t every Hammers supporter who decided to boo Rice on his return to the London Stadium, with many home fans appreciating what he did for the club.
But some supporters did choose to jeer the midfielder, who swapped claret and blue for red and white in a mega-money move at the end of the previous campaign.
Rice was a superb servant for the Hammers, with the England international leaving on a high with the Europa Conference League trophy.
But given his ability and ambitions, he was always going to be on the move, with Arsenal winning the race for his signature.
And he has settled into life in North London perfectly, with Rice an immediate hit with his teammates, fans and manager Mikel Arteta.
The midfielder now has the chance to challenge for major trophies at Arsenal, with the Gunners undoubtedly in the Premier League title race this season.
In other West Ham news, a journalist has made a “light a fire” prediction on an exit-linked Hammers player.
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