EFL Cup: Arteta expects ‘beautiful’ return to West Ham for Rice
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says English midfielder Declan Rice could be in line to make his first appearance against his former club West Ham on Wednesday night in the Carabao Cup round of 16.
The 24-year-old joined the Gunners from the Hammers in a £105 million move last summer, and Arteta tagged his possible return to the London Stadium as a ‘beautiful moment’.
On the possibility of the midfielder playing, the Arsenal boss said: “He can be involved. It will be first time back at his old club and a beautiful moment, I think, for him.”
“I think it’s beautiful,” Arteta added when asked about returning to one’s old club. “I think I had the experience to do it a few times and then you really see what they think of you and what you left at the club and it’s a really good way to measure your experience and your reality within the reality of the people that shared moments with you.”
Rice joined the West Ham academy as a 14-year-old before going on to make 245 appearances for the senior team and was subsequently named club captain after the retirement of Mark Noble.
He led the East London outfit to their first title in 43 years and first European title in 58 years after they defeated Fiorentina 2-1 in the final of the UEFA Europa League last season.
Arteta, who continues to spearhead Arsenal’s resurgence to the top, added that he expects a good reception for the Englishman as he has had a stellar career with the Hammers.
“I would say so, I hope so, I think. And especially, 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. So hopefully it will be the same way towards him.”
A massive night under the lights awaits ⚒️#WHUFC | @huboofulfilment pic.twitter.com/6sJLv4UEt7
— West Ham United (@WestHam) October 31, 2023
The Gunners will make a short trip across London to take on David Moyes’ side in the last 16 after just scrapping a 1-0 win at Brentford in the third round.
Arsenal are currently unbeaten in four games since they lost 2-1 in the Champions League to Lens, and they go into the league cup game off the back of a 5-0 thrashing of Sheffield United at the Emirates Stadium.
West Ham, on the other hand, are winless in four games, including suffering three defeats in that timeframe.
