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Declan Rice warning to West Ham sets the tone ahead of crucial Premier League showdown
Declan Rice is not in the mood for nostalgia. The Arsenal midfielder has made it clear that Sunday’s trip to West Ham is strictly business. The Gunners are locked in a title race, and Rice says sentiment will not get in the way.
Rice played the full 90 minutes on Tuesday night as Arsenal beat Atletico Madrid 1-0 in the Champions League semi-final second leg. Bukayo Saka grabbed the decisive goal. The 2-1 aggregate win sends Arsenal to their first Champions League final since 2006.
But Rice barely paused to celebrate. His mind had already shifted to the Premier League. The clash at the London Stadium carries enormous weight for both sides. Arsenal are chasing the title. West Ham are fighting to stay up.
Declan Rice warning to West Ham – I have a job to do.
Speaking after the semi-final, Rice was honest about his feelings. He acknowledged that without West Ham, there is no him. The club gave him a chance when others did not. It hurts to see them struggling near the bottom.
Still, the midfielder did not sugarcoat the situation. He said it is the business end of the season. He has a job to do on Sunday, and he intends to do it. Arsenal need every point they can get.
Rice won the Conference League with West Ham in 2023 before making his move to north London. He has faced his old club before and found the net. Back in October, he scored the opener in a 2-0 win at the Emirates. That moment showed he can separate emotion from duty.
Arsenal currently hold a five-point lead over Manchester City. But City have a game in hand and could cut the gap to two when they face Brentford on Saturday. The pressure is real. Dropping points is not an option.
West Ham are a point from safety and desperate for survival. Rice would probably prefer to see his former club climb out of trouble. But Arsenal’s title hopes come first. The Gunners have not lifted the Premier League trophy in 22 years. This is their chance.
Rice made 245 appearances for West Ham. The connection runs deep. But on Sunday, he will walk into the London Stadium wearing red and white, focused on one thing. Getting the win. Leaving with three points. Keeping the title dream alive.
