Zouma Speech About a top player, an important player West Ham Missed

The Gunners and the Hammers drew each other in the League Cup Round of 16, the first time he will be returning to his former side.

Zouma said: “We lost a top player, an important player, in Declan. But I think the replacements that we made have been very clever.

“That didn’t affect us, to be fair, we knew he was going to go. He’s played some unbelievable games here, he’ll always be remembered here, but he’s an opponent now.

“The players that came in have bought into the project at West Ham, they’ve bought into the tactics, they’ve settled quickly as well. So we are pleased to have those guys and they’ve helped us make a really strong start to the season.”

The return to your former side, especially the side you led as captain to a European Cup, can be an emotional affair. Rice has always been clear and honest about his love for the club, but for the 90 minutes that he’s in an Arsenal shirt against the Hammers, fans may forget that. It’s unlikely that any Hammers squad member would be frustrated at Rice for his summer departure, but they probably won’t be friends on the pitch.

Rice will have to face his former side at least three times this season, with the 24-year-old set to return to the London Stadium on 1 November in the League Cup clash.

Zouma claimed that the club was not affected by his departure as they already were sure that he would leave, but did also praise the Hammers’ new summer additions which have all more than filled the void left by Rice, especially James Ward-Prowse who has the second most goal contributions in the side.

As the new Hammers captain, Zouma is certainly taking to the role well, but he has big boots to fill this season.