Waiting for Arsenal to confirm a new signing is like waiting for train in the middle of a nationwide drivers strike, and it looks like there is nothing changed on that score. But at least West Ham has now confirmed he has left theLondon Stadium, as David Sullivan has penned an emotional farewell to their trophy-winning captain.
Sullivan tod the club’s website: “I am sorry to see Declan leave us, but I believe that everyone at West Ham United should be very proud of the part we have played in his journey from the Academy of Football at Chadwell Heath to becoming the most valuable young player in English football.
“I would like to make it clear to our supporters that we did not want to sell Declan. We wanted to build our team around him and made a series of improved, long-term contract offers to secure his future. However, once Declan made it clear that he wished to move on and seek a new challenge, the Club felt it would not be right to stand in his way, acting in the best interests of West Ham United.
“He leaves with the sincere thanks, respect and love of everyone here, having earned his place in history alongside the great Bobby Moore and Billy Bonds as the only players to have captained West Ham United to a major trophy. More than that, he has always given absolutely everything for the football club throughout his time with us.
“Declan will forever hold a special place in the hearts of Hammers fans and everyone here at the Club. We wish him well for the future and he will always be an inspiration and an example to any young player coming through our Academy.”
All I can say is thankyou to West Ham for putting Arsenal fans out of their misery, and it is worth noting that at no point did Sullivan indicate that Rice was going to Arsenal, so we may well be in for a shock after all, but I doubt that very much. I think they have purposely pre-epted Arsenal because they are annoyed at the delay.
Hopefully the circus is over, and now we can start preparing for the new season in earnest….
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Arsenal media just made a mess and imo has just shot their foot.
Barely 24hrs after the announcement of Jurien Timber, westharm and Rice confirming the deal whereas they are still trying to put the interview videos together.
Jurien should have been announced 3days earlier. Am happy Rice wrote his farewell message earlier, to avoid another Kai havart saga.
Very poor handling of this situation by Arsenal. I can imagine how frustrated the hammers were.
I agree.
Their team of lawyers needs to be replaced immediately – the paperwork should have been ready to sign once the fee and contract terms were agreed.
West have a right to feel a bit aggrieved about this as it has impacted their own transfer plans.
I so happy with this new and can now break my fasting i am so excited
The starting line-up below would likely make Zinchenko, Tierney, Smith-Rowe, Vieira, Trossard, Sambi-Lokonga and Elneny unhappy:
…….………….……. Ramsdale
………. Timber .… Saliba …. Magalhaes
………………. White ……..… Rice
Saka . Odegaard . Havertz . Martinelli
……………………..…. Jesus
Arsenal should trim their huge squad ASAP, because we have too many fringe and squad rotation players. We can’t have a lot of unhappy players due to their limited game time
Gai,
I don’t see Arteta featuring White and Timber together. I think either of them will play living room for one of jorginho or Pathey or Trossad to partner Rice. Last friendly first 11 formation is a clue to what Arteta would do. I think Arteta wants Kiwior to deputise for Zichenko. Kiwior once played as a DM in his former club.
The players on bench should have no problem if Arteta rotates well. Competition comes with big club.
We may still play with Zinchenko, Tierney and Kiwior as inverted-LB, but that means White could be dropped for Timber after a few games
I don’t think we’d have enough cup games for our fringe and squad rotation players
But everyones been saying our squad is too small? 🤣
If everyones being honest the squad was always big enough, just that many of the newer acquisition weren’t good enough like Vierira, Lokonga and Tavares.
Will MA put his ego aside and admit they aren’t good enough and sell?
Arteta wouldn’t need to admit anything, because some players could be incompatible with the team’s tactics and it has happened at all clubs
Vieira needs the second season to show his improvement, Sambi-Lokonga could be assigned in Xhaka’s position and Tavares could be trained to be a winger
It would depend on whether Arteta can still give them another chance or not, because I’m sure Kroenke wants a major trophy this season and Arteta would likely need experienced players with proven achievements for that
I never said it doesn’t happen at other clubs what I said was egos need to be put aside and we need to sell some of the players. We got rid of old deadwood and are just creating more now.
Can you name 1 player that’s been trained up from a fringe player position to the 1st team?
Arteta doesn’t look egoistic to me
Almunia and Martinez became our main GKs after spending years as backup players
@GAI
Don’t waste your breathe..
It’s got nothing to do with caring so much about anything. Just the same old individuals finding any negatives to latch onto in order to soothe themselves about Arteta being terrible.
👍🤭🤞
I know Arteta has upset some people here because he shipped out their favorite players 😁
This guy👆
😂
🤣🤣 says 1 of the people saying our squad was too small! I love the hypocrisy on here lol
I wonder why White as we have Partey and Jorginho who are experts in that position.
Would you just want to experiment?
Just like benching White and playing Partey or a Jorginho in the right fullback position.
Payback time for W Hams bullish approach to the payment structure of the transfer fee?
Yes payback by delaying our new player getting to preseason and settling in.
Intelligence!
I see no intentional delay here. Are you saying that any player we buy from today or even on deadline day wouldn’t settle in?
That is not true.
Fans should should do their supporting and leave transfer matters and team handling to the management.
Some fans need to stop behaving as all knowing.
It’s clear the Bubbles aren’t happy, but the deal is at a point rendering it almost impossible not go through.
Should West Ham pull the plug now it could have huge implications for them already struggling.
It would be like cutting off your nose to spite your face.
I think Arsenal did great by going through proper channel to sign a 100M plus player. Spending money that much is not an easy journey. West Ham boss David Sullivan is a wildly coyote and I’m glad our club didn’t bend over to all his demands. Once Declan Rice sets his eyes on Arsenal, then we can take our time so we won’t stab ourselves in the arse. We must not spend to build today and face financial difficulties tomorrow. Walking away from Caicedo and his ridiculous valuation is one example. We are a big club and the fans better start acting like one.
I see no wrong done by Arsenal in this situation.
Some fans rave and rant over pettiness.
West ham is annoyed and so what?
Why did they not then turn down our 105mils and pull out of the deal?
Must we kowtow to every whims and caprices of theirs?
Years back, we have dilly dallied about these signings and end up making ad hoc purchases at the last minute.
We are weeks to transfer deadline but we are almost done with purchases.
Give the Arsenal management a break. They’ve done a yeoman’s job including our lawyers.
Kudos!!!