Declan Rice took a swipe at Chelsea moments after helping Arsenal book a place in the Champions League final.
Bukayo Saka scored the decisive goal that helped Arsenal claim a 2-1 aggregate victory over Atletico Madrid. Rice was instrumental as Arsenal secure a place in the final for the first in twenty years.
Mikel Arteta’s team will now shift focus back to Premier League title race, which the Gunners are commanding following Manchester City’s 3-3 draw at Everton on Monday. Three points at Rice’s former club, West Ham, on Sunday would significantly boost Arsenal’s hopes of landing their first league crown in 22 years.
When quizzed about the game at the London Stadium, Rice expressed his appreciation to the Hammers, who signed him after he had been let go by Chelsea aged just 14.
Declan Rice celebrates alongside Arsenal players and manager after the victory over Atletico Madrid. (Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)
Rice told Prime Video: “That club gave me everything, without West Ham there’s no me.
“I honestly believe that. They gave me a chance when Chelsea didn’t. A lot of people there really pushed me on, (David) Moyes, (Slaven) Bilic and (Manuel) Pellegrini made me captain. There’s loads of good things about that club, so it’s not nice to see the position they’re in.
“But it’s football and I’ve got a job to do on Sunday. We’re trying to win a Premier League title, we want to win every game and I’m sure they will want to as well, so let the best team win.”
On the mood inside the Gunners’ dressing room, Rice added: “It is chaos in there. I don’t think you can underestimate what we have done in this competition up to this point.
“I think we have every right to celebrate that moment. The most prestigious competition in club football. We are just trying to soak it all in.
“We knew coming into the game what was at stake. If you can’t get up for that, then you can’t get up for any game of football. When we went 1-0 up, I knew we were going to win. I could feel something special building.”
Arsenal will now be eager to arrive in Budapest for the Champions League final as Premier League champions. Should they claim victory in their remaining three games, against the Hammers, Burnley and Crystal Palace, they will achieve exactly that.
