Following Arsenal's away victory over Crystal Palace in the final match of the Premier League season, midfielder Declan Rice was captured on camera with his genuine reaction upon learning that his former club West Ham United had been relegated. The England international, who once led the Hammers to win the UEFA Europa Conference League, still felt distressed about his old club's misfortune even as the Gunners were celebrating their Premier League title.
Rice's Reaction
Arsenal had already been confirmed as this season's Premier League champions on Tuesday night, and their away win against Crystal Palace on Sunday was their final league victory of the campaign. The Gunners' match ended a few minutes before the final outcome of the relegation battle was decided. The Tottenham Hotspur vs Everton game was delayed due to VAR issues, becoming the last match to finish on Sunday. Rice's former club—where he won the UEFA Europa Conference League before his £100 million transfer to Arsenal—knew they had to beat Leeds United while also needing Everton to do them a favor.
The Hammers defeated Leeds United 3-0 at the London Stadium, but Tottenham Hotspur secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Everton thanks to a goal from Rodri Palhinha, ensuring their continued stay in the top flight. Footage that emerged showed Rice throwing his arms wide and shaking his head when the result was confirmed, wearing a look of complete disappointment even though Arsenal's celebrations were about to begin.
Regarding West Ham United's Relegation
West Ham United appointed Nuno Espírito Santo in an attempt to salvage the season, but they lost three of their final four matches, which ultimately proved fatal and brought an end to their 14 consecutive seasons in the Premier League. The Hammers' head coach stated: “This is a moment of deep sadness for everyone at our club. It has been a tough day, we had a difficult mission, and we lost the right to decide our own fate. If you ask me now about the past and the future, I don't think this is the best time to understand the sadness felt by our fans, ourselves, and this club. I want to apologize to the fans and thank them for all the support they have given us. It has been a very strange season in terms of points—usually 39 points would have been enough to keep a team safe from relegation over the past decade or so. We have improved, but it wasn't enough.”
Regarding Rice's Upcoming Journey
Rice's club season could end with the honor of a Champions League title in six days' time—Arsenal will face Paris Saint-Germain, aiming to win the first Champions League trophy in the club's history. He told Sky Sports: “The message from the coach has already been: enjoy today, but tomorrow we need to be fully focused on Paris Saint-Germain, because we have a huge opportunity there. We want that trophy. We want the double. We want to push towards that goal. Then there's the England national team. There are many games ahead. I'm sure it will all be worth it.”
