Declan Rice can have last laugh with Arsenal and West Ham fates both in the balance | OneFootball

Midfielder must park sentiment against relegation-threatened Irons with Premier League summit within reach

There is a tweet about Declan Rice that has popped up on social media regularly over the last three years.

A few days before his move to Arsenal was confirmed in the summer of 2023, a West Ham fan account shared a video of Rice striding up to lift the Conference League trophy.

The post was captioned: "Declan Rice's first and last ever trophy won as a professional player."

It has been viewed almost 86 million times. With every near miss that Arsenal and Rice have endured over the last three seasons, it gets shared again.

That included after the Carabao Cup in February and as Arsenal faltered once more in recent weeks, another burst of May retweets felt increasingly likely.

Fans laughed at Declan Rice’s expense after Arsenal were eliminated from the Carabao Cup and FA Cup

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However, the shelf life for that post could finally be coming to an end. Rice is just three weeks away from potentially getting his hands on the two biggest club prizes available to him.

The midfielder has had another sensational season, driving Arsenal forward on four fronts with remarkable consistency.

Rice was player of the match in midweek against Atletico Madrid as the Gunners booked their place in the Champions League final.

The focus now turns back to the Premier League and Rice will return to familiar territory this afternoon.

Arsenal are away at West Ham and Jamie Carragher, among others, has suggested victory at the London Stadium would effectively seal the title.

Declan Rice was imperious against Atletico Madrid

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If Mikel Arteta's side were to secure the three points, only wins over Burnley and Crystal Palace would stand in their way.

Burnley are long since relegated and Palace are all in on the Conference League, but there will be no lack of motivation in the West Ham camp.

They are fighting for their lives in the relegation zone. With three matches left this season, the Hammers trail Tottenham in 17th by a single point.

It leaves Rice with a strange dynamic. He knows he must do his part to lead the visitors to a win and take a major step towards finally getting his hands on silverware as an Arsenal player.

In doing so, he could effectively condemn his former club, one he has great affection for, to relegation. Sentiment must be parked to one side.

Declan Rice has impressed against West Ham before

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"It's a club that gave me everything," Rice said this week. "Without West Ham, there's no me and I honestly believe that.

"It's not nice to see the position they're in, but it's football and I have a job to do on Sunday.

"We're trying to win a Premier League title and it's the business end of the season, so we want to win every game and I'm sure they want to win every game too. So, yeah, may the best team win."

On his first return to the London Stadium in 2024, Rice scored and assisted two more goals in a 6-0 Arsenal win.

It is likely to be a more hard-fought encounter this time but the momentum is with Arsenal after a stark turnaround in their form.

Defeat to City last month made it four losses in six matches and the season was in danger of derailing. Arsenal are unbeaten in four since then and have flipped the mood.

This match at the London Stadium is one that could cement the fates of both clubs. That would be the ultimate last laugh for Rice over those counting his medals.