The chant broke out in the far corner of the away end, when they knew the game was won. It only happened once — and certainly did not meet with universal approval — but the timing and subject were significant.
‘Are you watching Declan Rice?’ West Ham’s fans bellowed, as they realised they would end the day top of the Premier League. ‘Are you watching Declan Rice?’
Things move quickly in football. It had only been 90 days since Rice’s last game for West Ham had ended with him hoisting aloft the club’s first piece of silverware for 43 years, but now he was the butt of a crowing chant, undoubtedly fuelled by Arsenal’s late slip against Fulham.