| Date: Wednesday, 1 November Time: 19:30 GMT Venue: London Stadium |
| BBC coverage: Live commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Sport website and app; live text commentary on BBC Sport website |
Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice should be “welcomed back with open arms” when he returns to West Ham in Wednesday’s Carabao Cup tie, says David Moyes.
Rice made almost 250 appearances for West Ham and captained them to a Europa Conference League triumph in June.
“You’ve got to remember this is the man who lifted this club’s first European trophy in more than 50 years,” said Hammers boss 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% in every game, even though we sort of knew he probably wasn’t going to stay at West Ham.
“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.”
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta made sweeping changes for his side’s tie against Brentford in the previous round, with Rice among the players rested.
However, Arteta said it was “likely” Rice would play some part against the club he joined as a 14-year-old.
“It will be his first time back at his old club and a beautiful moment for him,” said Arteta.
“I had a chance to do it a few times and then you really see what they think of you and what you left at the club.
“Every time you hear him talk about West Ham and what they did for him and everybody at the club, he cannot talk any higher of them, so hopefully they will be the same way towards him.”
Will Arteta make changes again? – team news
While Arsenal are second in the Premier League and back in the Champions League for the first time since 2017, Arteta insisted the Carabao Cup is an important target for them.
“It’s a competition we have the chance to progress in and win a trophy and our mindset has to be focused on West Ham,” the Spaniard said.
“I live it exactly the same as the Premier League. I have the same thing in my tummy and the same way to prepare and want to win the game for sure.”
Striker Gabriel Jesus will not feature because of a hamstring injury and midfielder Thomas Partey is out with a muscle injury, while captain Martin Odegaard is again likely to be rested as he recovers from a hip complaint.
For West Ham, defender Vladimir Coufal and ex-Arsenal goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski are available after missing Thursday’s Europa League game at Olympiakos, with Coufal starting in the 1-0 home loss to Everton on Sunday.
The Hammers are ninth in the Premier League but without a win in four matches in all competitions, with three successive defeats.
“We definitely want to bounce back against Arsenal,” Ghana winger Mohammed Kudus told West Ham TV.
“The good thing is there are a lot of games and we don’t have time to be too disappointed. The focus now has to be on Arsenal, our next game, and how we do better.”
