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Declan Rice’s nightmare West Ham return a result of Arsenal’s complacency
Declan Rice’s nightmare West Ham return a result of Arsenal’s complacency
By the time Declan Rice eventually took to the pitch on his return to West Ham, his rescue mission had begun to look like an impossible task. The smattering of boos that greeted the return of only the third West Ham captain in history to lift a major honour were quickly drowned out by a rapturous roar. Rice had only been on for a matter of moments when Jarrod Bowen’s deflected strike cannoned in off Aaron Ramsdale and with it, Rice’s old club led his new club by three goals. By the end, Arsenal crashed out of the Carabao Cup with barely a whimper. This was not a happy homecoming for Rice – it was a terrible night for Arsenal, a difficult evening for Ramsdale, and a regretful one for Mikel Arteta, whose side were second-best throughout. Rice’s introduction off the bench came too late, as did the arrivals of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard, who fired a consolation goal that was barely even acknowledged in the 95th minute. Arsenal took this fourth-round tie lightly and were punished: West Ham and David Moyes pulled off their plan and played the occasion well. They thoroughly deserved their place in the quarter-finals. After Rice helped inspire West Ham to the Europa Conference League last season, delivering a fitting send-off on his final appearance for the club, it could be that the Hammers win another trophy before he does. Rice, of course, has bigger goals than the Carabao Cup, but it could be that the competition serves as the perfect way for West Ham to build on last season’s success. Bowen and Lucas Paqueta were excellent, but the game’s outstanding moment came with Mohammed Kudus’s stunning second for the hosts. West Ham have invested the Rice money wisely. Arsenal, though, had their lack of depth exposed. Arteta’s side looked flat from the start and the concession of a cheap corner invited West Ham to roll numbers forward and into the box. While Tomas Soucek grappled with Ramsdale on the goalline, Bowen aimed towards the front post with plenty of pace and whip. There was no West Ham player in sight but Arsenal got themselves into a mess: with Ramsdale pushing past Soucek and crashing the back of Gabriel, Ben White, caught behind Kai Havertz, positioned in the wrong place, bundled into the net with his newly bleached blonde head. The blame from an Arsenal perspective deserved to be shared around, yet the focus naturally fell on Ramsdale. The England international had his shirt pulled and felt he was fouled, if VAR was used in the Carabao Cup fourth round then it may have been overturned. Yet his appeals towards referee Anthony Taylor were in vain and an important night for the goalkeeper was off to a difficult start. Perhaps Ramsdale, clearly Arsenal’s No 2 now despite Arteta’s curious claim that he would be rotated with David Raya, felt under more pressure than he usually would have been before he was dropped. There was certainly a sense of unease and panic in Arsenal’s defence. Ramsdale and Gabriel invited pressure as Arsenal struggled to play out, which played into West Ham’s hands. The hosts were up for it, Bowen raising the crowd with a challenge deep in Arsenal’s half, West Ham then forcing another corner with their subsequent press. Ramsdale was again targeted by Soucek and although West Ham finished the half without having a shot on target, registering just over 32 per cent of the possession, it felt as if Moyes’s side carried the greater threat on the counter-attack. Arsenal were slow and ponderous, and it was no surprise to see Rice was summoned to begin his warm-up midway through the first half, greeted by a warm, rippling standing ovation from much of the London Stadium. After making changes, Arteta left himself with the security of a high-quality bench and it quickly became clear that Rice, Saka, Odegaard and Martinelli would be needed. Despite their possession, Havertz’s flicked header that forced an instinctive save from Lukasz Fabianski was the closest the visitors came. But half-time came and went without any changes and Arsenal were almost punished within seconds of the restart. Paqueta slipped in Bowen with a reverse pass and Ramsdale was required to stretch his arms to deny the forward’s clever chip. White, this time, cleared the danger as he beat Kudus to the rebound. Still Rice warmed up, the intensity of his sprints on the touchline quickening, and it was just at the moment of the West Ham supporters bantering with their former captain that he “should have signed for a big club” that the Hammers doubled their lead. Although not on the pitch, perhaps Rice could have been credited with the assist: it was with some of the record £105m that West Ham received for Rice this summer that led to the Hammers signing a player of the calibre of Kudus from Ajax. If Kudus has sparkled so far for West Ham with a couple of eye-catching goals and contributions, this was the 23-year-old’s most impressive yet. Controlling a high, diagonal pass, Kudus skilfully directed his touch to cut inside Zinchenko. Then, with the yard of space he had created, Kudus fired a zipping strike through the legs of Gabriel. Arteta could not wait any longer: on came Rice to more than a few boos, soon followed by Saka and Martinelli, and then Odegaard. But by then it was too late: another White header caused chaos for Arsenal, only this time it set up Bowen on the edge of the box. Bowen’s strike took a slight deflection off Jakub Kiwior, which left a rather awkward-looking Ramsdale only able to parry the volley into his own net. Rice seemed to struggle on his return, with passes overhit to cheers from the home fans. It was only with the introduction of Odegaard that Arsenal began to look more like themselves, but when the captain fired a low finish past Fabianski in the 95th minute, there was barely anyone left in the away end to applaud it. Read More Declan Rice booed by West Ham fans on return to London Stadium Carabao Cup draw: Liverpool, Newcastle and more discover fate Why Declan Rice returns to West Ham as Arsenal’s ‘Van Dijk’ signing West Ham vs Arsenal LIVE: Carabao Cup result, final score and reaction Everton end emotional week with win at West Ham thanks to Calvert-Lewin goal West Ham vs Everton LIVE: Latest Premier League updates
1970-01-01 08:00
Pro Picks: Steelers at home will be too tough for Will Levis, Titans
Pro Picks: Steelers at home will be too tough for Will Levis, Titans
Will Levis has a quick turnaround to follow up an impressive debut
1970-01-01 08:00
Falcons bench Desmond Ridder, announce Taylor Heinicke as starter against Vikings
Falcons bench Desmond Ridder, announce Taylor Heinicke as starter against Vikings
Taylor Heinicke has moved past turnover-plagued Desmond Ridder as the Atlanta Falcons’ starting quarterback for Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings
1970-01-01 08:00
Giants QB Daniel Jones practices without restrictions for the first time since his neck injury
Giants QB Daniel Jones practices without restrictions for the first time since his neck injury
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones practiced fully for the first time since injuring his neck more than three weeks ago and pronounced himself ready to play against the Raiders in Las Vegas on Sunday
1970-01-01 08:00
Carabao Cup draw LIVE: Liverpool, West Ham, Chelsea, Newcastle and more discover quarter-final fate
Carabao Cup draw LIVE: Liverpool, West Ham, Chelsea, Newcastle and more discover quarter-final fate
The quarter-final draw for the Carabao Cup takes place this evening at the conclusion of the remaining fourth round matches. West Ham have knocked out Arsenal as Declan Rice’s return to the London Stadium ended in a 3-1 defeat. Liverpool, Chelsea, Everton and Fulham then joined the Hammers in the last eight. League One’s Port Vale were the first team to reach the last eight of the League Cup, for the first time in their history, after defeating Mansfield Town on Tuesday evening, while an 83rd-minute penalty earned Middlesbrough a 3-2 victory away at Exeter. The draw will take place following the conclusion of Manchester United’s match against Newcastle tonight which is a repeat of last year’s final. Eddie Howe’s men knocked out Manchester City in the third round and will want to triumph over another Manchester team as they target the latter stages. Follow our live blog below for the lastest updates from the Carabao Cup and to see who will face who in the quarter-finals of the League Cup:
1970-01-01 08:00
Storied high school football rivalry in Maine takes on extra significance in wake of mass shooting
Storied high school football rivalry in Maine takes on extra significance in wake of mass shooting
Lewiston, Maine, takes another step in its recovery from the state's worst mass shooting, as high school football returns
1970-01-01 08:00
Packers GM says team's overall struggles on offense make it difficult to measure Love's progress
Packers GM says team's overall struggles on offense make it difficult to measure Love's progress
Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst says the overall struggles of the offense make it tougher to evaluate the progress of Jordan Love in the quarterback’s first season as a starter
1970-01-01 08:00
The NHL is trying to follow Taylor Swift's lead by selling out MetLife Stadium multiple times
The NHL is trying to follow Taylor Swift's lead by selling out MetLife Stadium multiple times
The NHL is envisioning doing the same thing Taylor Swift did over the summer: selling out 82,000-seat MetLife Stadium multiple times
1970-01-01 08:00
Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson says he's surprised he didn't get traded
Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson says he's surprised he didn't get traded
Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson was surprised he didn’t get traded after being granted permission to seek a deal with another team
1970-01-01 08:00
Declan Rice booed by West Ham fans on return to London Stadium
Declan Rice booed by West Ham fans on return to London Stadium
Declan Rice was booed by some sections of the West Ham supporters as the England international made his first return to the London Stadium since his £105m move to Arsenal this summer. Rice, who led West Ham to their first European trophy in 48 years when the Hammers lifted the Europa Conference League last season, became the most expensive English player of all time when he joined Mikel Arteta’s side. The 24-year-old was brought on as a second-half substitute at the London Stadium and with his new side 2-0 down, following an own goal from Ben White and a stunning second from Mohammed Kudus. While Rice was warmly applauded as he warmed up on the touchline, the response was rather more mixed as he replaced Jorginho on the 55th minute mark. There were loud boos within sections of the crowd as Rice took to the field. West Ham manager David Moyes had said he hoped Rice would be “welcomed back with open arms” when speaking ahead of Wednesday night’s Carabao Cup fourth-round tie. “You’ve got to remember this is the man who lifted this club’s first European trophy in more than 50 years,” said Moyes. “He should be welcomed back with open arms. We’re all looking forward to seeing him again. “He was a brilliant member of the team. He led the team brilliantly well. He conducted himself impeccably as a West Ham captain and as a player. “The most important thing was that he gave 100 per cent in every game, even though we sort of knew he probably wasn’t going to stay at West Ham. So all credit to him. He conducted himself brilliantly well and for that alone he deserves to be cheered. “I’m really looking forward to seeing Dec again. I’ve not seen him since he left. I don’t know if I want him to play, but I hope he’s there.” Arteta also said he thought Rice would receive a warm reception: "I would say so and I hope so,” Arteta said. “Especially because every time you hear him talk about West Ham and what they did for him and everybody at the club, he cannot speak any more highly. Hopefully, it will be the same way towards him. “It would be his first time back there at his old club and a beautiful moment for him. I think it’s beautiful, I had the experience to do it a few times and then you really see what they think of you and what you left at that club. "It’s really good way to measure your experience and the reality of your reality with the people who shared those moments with you." Read More David Moyes: Declan Rice should be welcomed back at London Stadium with open arms Why Declan Rice returns to West Ham as Arsenal’s ‘Van Dijk’ signing Mikel Arteta pinpoints moment Arsenal made ‘phenomenal’ response at Chelsea Arsenal stun Chelsea to claim point amid chaos from goalkeeper howlers Declan Rice reveals how Rugby World Cup has helped England’s ‘mentality’ West Ham vs Arsenal LIVE: Latest Carabao Cup fourth round updates
1970-01-01 08:00
Instate ACC foes Duke and Wake Forest meet trying to regroup from recent losses
Instate ACC foes Duke and Wake Forest meet trying to regroup from recent losses
Duke and Wake Forest meet Thursday night in the latest renewal of the longtime instate series between Atlantic Coast Conference schools
1970-01-01 08:00
Catcher Luke Maile guaranteed $3.5 million from contract with Cincinnati Reds
Catcher Luke Maile guaranteed $3.5 million from contract with Cincinnati Reds
Catcher Luke Maile is guaranteed $3.5 million under his one-year contract with the Cincinnati Reds, which prevents him from becoming a free agent after the World Series
1970-01-01 08:00
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