Declan Rice suffered defeat with Arsenal in his first return to West Ham (TGS Photo/Shutterstock)
David Moyes has defended West Ham fans after Declan Rice was booed at the London Stadium during Arsenal’s 3-1 defeat in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday evening.
Mikel Arteta’s side were dumped out of the competition as an own goal from Ben White, plus goals from Mohammed Kudus and Jarrod Bowen gave West Ham a commanding lead before Martin Odegaard found the net in injury time.
Rice, meanwhile, came on as a second-half substitute in what was his first appearance in front of West Ham’s supporters since his £105 million move to Arsenal in the summer.
And the former West Ham captain was booed and jeered by the home supporters during his time on the pitch.
When asked about the negative response from West Ham’s fans towards Rice, Moyes said: ‘I think everybody is entitled to their form of opinion.
Declan Rice was booed by West Ham fans as Arsenal crashed out of the Carabao Cup (Shutterstock)
‘There isn’t a person in this stadium tonight who doesn’t recognise that Declan is a top football player.
‘But there are a lot of West Ham supporters in there tonight who probably hoped that he didn’t do so well and their team one.
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‘From that point of view, you’re always going to get mixed feelings and different opinions.’
Asked if he was surprised or disappointed about the reception Rice received, Arteta said: ‘No, and it’s not for me to judge that.’
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