Former West Ham captain Declan Rice was singled out for abuse and pelted with objects from the crowd when starring for Arsenal last night.
West Ham fans are sorely missing European football after three consecutive seasons of adventures.
Rivals like Arsenal are looking to go deep in the Champions League.
But West Ham’s hopes of getting back into Europe look dead and buried this term too after the failed Julen Lopetegui appointment.
West Ham fans will have fond memories of their runs to a Europa League semi-final and quarter-final sandwiching that unforgettable Europa Conference League triumph over Fiorentina.
That was Declan Rice’s last act as West Ham captain before he was sold for £105m to Arsenal.
Rice said he chose Arsenal as he wanted to win the top trophies in football.
Those comments rubbed many West Ham fans up the wrong way.
And Rice’s hopes of doing that hang in the balance again this season.
After a difficult period with the Gunners of late, Rice has faced criticism from some Arsenal fans.
West Ham miss Europe as Rice shines on big stage
It proved Rice will never have the unconditional love at Arsenal that he had at West Ham.
Of all West Ham’s European adventures in recent years, it was one of their first that sticks in the memory.
And it was a game that came back to haunt Rice with the Gunners last night.
Because West Ham are the reason Rice was targeted by hooligans during an Arsenal win.
West Ham’s Europa League campaign back in 2021 started with a daunting trip to European regulars Dinamo Zagreb.
Michail Antonio and Rice both scored as the Hammers announced themselves in the competition with a dominant performance away against the Croatian champions.
Fan violence marred the fixture off the pitch with several clashes and arrests made.
Arsenal star Rice sealed an exemplary away performance with a superb second on his 150th appearance for West Ham that night.
West Ham the reason Rice was targeted by hooligans during Arsenal win
The England midfielder brilliantly won back possession in midfield and drove from the halfway line into the Dinamo area before dispatching a powerful left-foot shot through Livakovic’s legs.
Rice faced Zagreb again last night, this time helping his new team Arsenal to a 3-0 win at the Emirates.
The former Hammer scored his first Champions League goal after just two minutes.
But he was targeted by Zagreb hooligans throughout the game and pelted with bottles, cups and objects in what The Sun described as ‘shameful scenes’.
Rice was actually struck by one of the objects thrown.
Reporting the incidents on Sky Sports News, there was some confusion about why Rice was targeted.
But it all dates back to that West Ham win in Croatia in 2021.
After scoring his brilliant goal for West Ham, Rice went over to the Zagreb fans to goad them and held his arms out, cupping his ears.
Rice goaded Zagreb fans after goal in famous West Ham win
That sparked a furious reaction from their supporters and Zagreb players at the time who confronted him for taunting the home crowd.
West Ham fans loved it at the time of course.
Rice did not play in the reverse fixture as West Ham had already comfortably topped their group and qualified for the last 16.
So when Rice faced Zagreb with Arsenal last night, their fans did not forget that moment in West Ham’s memorable win.
And they brainlessly targeted him in unacceptable scenes.
The actions of that section of Zagreb’s fans will now likely land the Croatian champions in hot water with UEFA.
Thankfully for Rice and Arsenal, due to the new European format, the Gunners do not have to play away at Zagreb.
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