How Declan Rice’s Arsenal career so far compares to West Ham after £105m transfer

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Arsenal are back in Premier League action as they play host to West Ham United in another big London derby.

The Gunners have a chance to cut the gap to Premier League leaders Liverpool down to five points with victory on Saturday, firmly putting the pressure back on the Merseyside outfit.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
1	LiverpoolLiverpool	26	18	7	1	62	26	36	61
2	ArsenalArsenal	25	15	8	2	51	22	29	53

Mikel Arteta will be keenly aware that any slip-up from the Reds could open up an even greater chance for Arsenal to put the race back into their hands.

They will need to overcome West Ham first though, a side that have caused them some title race heartache in recent seasons.

It’s an opportunity to put all that despair aside though, pushing on from the ghosts of the past, not least for Declan Rice, who will be depended upon even more so against his old side.

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Declan Rice career stats at Arsenal vs West Ham

Declan Rice joined Arsenal for £105million from West Ham in 2023, becoming the all-time most expensive signing in the club’s history.

It’s a testament to his performances that the fee is rarely spoken about, having made quite the impression since moving to the Emirates Stadium.

Rice has evolved in the past season-and-a-half as well under Mikel Arteta, taking on some radically different responsibilities.

How many games did Declan Rice play for West Ham?

Declan Rice played 245 games for West Ham over his career across all competitions, racking up over 20,000 minutes played for the Hammers.

So far, the midfielder has made 85 appearances for Arsenal, becoming an ever-present force in the midfield.

Declan Rice goals and assists at West Ham vs Arsenal

One area that Declan Rice has dramatically changed in is his goals and assists record for both clubs across his career.

While the levels the two sides are playing at are different, the England international has been more involved in the final third since moving to Arsenal.

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Declan Rice’s position has transformed at Arsenal

During his early days at West Ham, Rice was often seen as a more defence-minded player, capable of playing at centre-back or in a deeper midfield role.

That has changed plenty in under two years at Arsenal, with Arteta looking to get plenty more out of him.

Rice has been tested as a number six and a number eight, making use of his defensive capabilities but also his more attack-minded attributes when needed.

His uptick in goals has been a clear result of that, with Arsenal’s ability to pen opposition in requiring those deeper runs from midfield.

The set-piece deliveries he has added to his game have been pinpointed too, adding another interesting weapon to his armoury.

Without a recognised striker for the rest of the season, Rice may be required more than ever to chip-in with a few goals before the end of the campaign.