Daniel Lewis

Tue 13 February 2024 20:10, UK

Rio Ferdinand was surprised to hear that Declan Rice was clapped by West Ham supporters when substituted off for Arsenal.

Rice received a mixed reception before and during Sunday’s (4 February) Premier League contest, which Arsenal won 6-0 to raise fresh doubts over David Moyes’ future.

However, the home supporters still inside London Stadium showed their appreciation when he made way in the second half.

Speaking on the Vibe with Five podcast [12 February, 2m 28s], Ferdinand initially said: “I saw him being booed. I’m there like ‘Really?’.

However, co-host Joel Beya shared that supporters stood up and clapped Rice when he was taken off, shortly after scoring.

A surprised Ferdinand then added: “So West Ham fans stood up and clapped? That wasn’t reported.”

Declan Rice has mixed reception on West Ham return

Only a minority of fans booed Rice, yet it seems to have garnered plenty of column inches on the back of the game, as it did in the Carabao Cup tie earlier in the season.

Even those that jeered Rice understand the situation. The former fan favourite went about his exit in the right way and the club put his £100m transfer fee to good use.

Many are quick to leave out the part about the West Ham fans clapping Rice when he was substituted. That came shortly after he had twisted the knife by adding Arsenal’s sixth goal.

Rice’s reaction to that goal went a long way to showing the affection he still has for United. If those who booed him were not aware of that previously, they certainly were at that point.

Quite why this has been discussed so widely is bizarre. Hopefully, come the next time Arsenal visit London Stadium, enough time would have passed for Rice to have little reaction either way.

In other West Ham news, Alex Crook has shared why David Moyes should be “annoyed” at United chiefs.

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