Tunnel camera footage has revealed that Declan Rice waited for Martin Odegaard in the tunnel after Sunday's clash so that he could get a signed Arsenal shirt. The two captains locked horns at the London Stadium as West Ham clinched a crucial point in their survival bid, while also denting the Gunners' hopes of winning the Premier League.
With a game in hand, the Hammers are now four points adrift of the drop zone but their status in the top flight is far from safe with plenty of difficult fixtures on the horizon. David Moyes' side must still face Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United before the end of the season, not to mention a potential Europa Conference League charge.
At the other end of the table, Arsenal are now only four points clear of the reigning champions, who have a game in hand. City will welcome the Gunners to the Etihad Stadium on April 26 in what is poised to be a winner takes all tie.
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With the Gunners hanging on to their place at the top, Arteta is eager to further bolster his midfield options in the summer. And, as a result, Rice has been heavily linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium.
Despite the arrival of Jorginho on January deadline day, football.london understand that Arsenal still hold a strong interest in the 24-year-old. But, it's also understood that Rice remains a key target for Chelsea too.
The England international is under contract at the London Stadium until 2024, with David Moyes' side holding the option to extend his stay by a further year. Rice is yet to commit his long-term future to West Ham and he's previously voiced his ambition to play in the Champions League – luckily for Arsenal, and unfortunately for Chelsea.
"Yeah - one hundred per cent I want to play in the Champions League," said the Englishman in December. "For the last two or three years I've been saying that. I've been playing consistently well for my club and I feel like I really want to keep pushing.
"I see my friends here (with England at the World Cup), who are playing Champions League and competing for big trophies. You only get one career and at the end of it you want to look back at what you've won and the biggest games you've played in. I really want to do that."
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