Even though Declan Rice has spent the last three years starring in Arsenal’s midfield, the former West Ham United captain has once again proved that his heart firmly remains in east London. Keeping a close eye on his boyhood club from afar, Rice made a subtle yet telling gesture on social media following the explosive return of the Dockers’ Derby against Millwall.
For any West Ham supporter watching their side travel to The Den for the first fiery meeting in 14 years, the wish for a player of Rice’s grit and leadership patrolling the midfield was universal. Though his £105m departure to Arsenal initially left some scars, moments like this continue to bridge the gap between the player and the fanbase that watched him grow into a superstar and lift the club’s first major European trophy in decades.
A Subtle Instagram Like That Says It All
While fully focused on helping Arsenal defend their Premier League status, Rice has never hidden his enduring affection for the club that shaped him. Following the dramatic 2-2 draw—where West Ham fought back from a 2-0 halftime deficit—the England midfielder caught the attention of eagle-eyed fans online.
An Instagram video capturing the resilient travelling West Ham supporters proudly drowning out the home crowd with a booming rendition of I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles inside a hostile Den made its rounds across social media. The post, captioned “West Ham fans drown out Millwall fans with I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles,” quickly caught the eye of the Arsenal star, who official liked the post from his verified account.
For supporters who still revere the homegrown hero, it was another heartwarming reminder that the bond between Rice and West Ham remains unbroken.
Could a Future Return on the Cards?
Rice’s continued public engagement with all things West Ham always sends ripples through the fanbase, especially given his past admissions that he would love to finish his playing career where it all started.
During Saturday’s high-stakes clash, West Ham badly lacked composure and physical presence in the middle of the park during a dismal first-half display, highlighting exactly the kind of fierce, combative midfielder Rice has evolved into. While the Hammers had to settle for a hard-earned point thanks to a rousing second-half comeback, supporters couldn’t help daydreaming about what it would have been like to see Rice marshalling the team through the white-hot heat of a Dockers’ Derby.
Given his stated desire to eventually return to east London before hanging up his boots, there is every chance that Declan Rice will one day get to experience the unbridled intensity of a West Ham-Millwall showdown firsthand. Until then, his quiet nods of approval from afar ensure that the love affair between the player and the Irons is far from over.
