West Ham United supporters and Declan Rice have had an interesting relationship since he left the London Stadium in 2023.

The Arsenal and England midfielder departed having won the Conference League Trophy and has had mixed success in games against his former side since leaving.

West Ham won at the Emirates for the second successive season last weekend (22 February) through Jarrod Bowen’s header, effectively putting an end to the Gunners’ title ambitions.

West Ham fans slammed by journalist over Rice

Rice is harshly treated by West Ham fans who should not be bitter over his efforts to leave and strive for further success, according to Andrew Dillon.

The Sun journalist, on page 50 of Friday’s print edition (28 February), has lamented Hammers supporters for their treatment of the Three Lions ace since his exit from the London Stadium.

Rice pocketed the Irons £105million when he swapped the East End for North London, bowing out on a decorated note and coming just short of winning the Premier League on the final day of last season.

Manchester City – who also pursued Rice but were outbid by Arsenal – pipped Mikel Arteta’s side to the title last term by two points, by beating West Ham 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium in their season finale.

Dillon said: “Declan Rice doesn’t deserve the treatment he gets from some West Ham fans who can’t deal with the sense of rejection after he left for bigger things.

“A vocal minority among the Irons following need a hate figure to feel significant. Frank Lampard and Paul Ince copped it big-time for years but whether or not that was warranted, Rice is different.

“And he showed why yet again with the way he clapped the away support at the Emirates on Saturday, as he walked over to take a corner.”

The footage of Rice taking said corner was filmed by X user Jack Heffer, and posted online in the wake of the victory (22 February), describing their former hero as “rattled”.

Rice is hammered by Hammers because it’s Arsenal

It certainly appears a juxtaposed feeling among West Ham fans towards Rice: some appreciate his contribution at the club which resulted in a long-awaited European trophy; others still rage about where he decided to move.

That is what appears to be the case. Rice leaving the London Stadium of course left every Hammers supporter disappointed, but it seemed that most were resigned to losing him – they were just upset by where he’d gone.

Whether it’s a London rivalry or a genuine perception among West Ham fans that Arsenal is a sideways move because of their lack of trophies in the past four years, Rice almost became an unpopular figure overnight.

The player’s insistence that he wanted to win trophies before moving to the Emirates likely doesn’t sit well with his former adoring crowd, who all appeared to be fine with the prospect of him moving to Manchester City.

From the outside, the preference for Man City to win things over their competitors from fans of many clubs is a bit strange. Many Tottenham fans actively wanted their team to lose to them late last season to prevent Arsenal winning the title. Granted, the two are bitter rivals, but then even some Hammers fans wanted to lose at the Etihad for the same reason on the final day.

Only a minority would have been pleased for Rice to lift the Premier League trophy in his first season, even though that would have vindicated him in the eyes of a few. Ultimately, it seems harmless banter and Rice evidently still respects where he came from.