Rice: Without West Ham, there is no me

Declan Rice will have to put his emotional bonds with West Ham to one side when Arsenal take on his former team this weekend.

Rice played a crucial role as Arsenal overcame Atletico Madrid 1-0 at the Emirates Stadium to reach the Champions League final 2-1 on aggregate.

Tuesday's second leg marked his 400th club game, having played 245 times for West Ham and then on 155 occasions for Arsenal.

Prior to joining Arsenal from West Ham for a then-record transfer fee in 2023, Rice captained the Hammers to European glory, as they won the Conference League.

However, while Rice is now targeting a famous Premier League-Champions League double with Arsenal, his old club are fighting to avoid relegation to the Championship.

"It is the club that gave me everything and, without West Ham, there is no me," Rice told Amazon Prime.

"They are the club that gave me the chance when Chelsea didn't.

"A lot of people there really did push me on. There are loads of good things about that club and it is not nice to see them in that position.

"But I have a job to do on Sunday. It is the business end of the season."

Arsenal, who are also five points clear at the top of the Premier League, have now equalled their club record for most wins in a single season (41 across all competitions), previously winning 41 in the 1970-71 campaign.

West Ham, who are one point behind 17th-place Tottenham, do at least have some hope. They are unbeaten in their last six home Premier League matches (W3 D3), last having a longer run without defeat on home soil in their final season at Upton Park between September 2015 and April 2016 (15 games).

But they have lost all five of their home London derbies in the Premier League this season.

No team in English league history have ever lost six home games against fellow London teams in a season.