West Ham United manager David Moyes occasionally texts Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice after good performances

West Ham United manager David Moyes occasionally texts Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice after good performances, according to The Athletic.

The England international left the Hammers for the Gunners in a £105 million deal in the summer and has hit the ground running at the North London club.

While West Ham would have loved to hold on to their former captain, they realised it was time to let him leave, and there is no animosity towards him from them.

Rice spent a decade with the Irons having joined as a schoolboy from Chelsea following his release in 2013.

He signed his first professional contract with the club in 2015, going on to make 245 appearances over the course of seven seasons and winning the UEFA Europa Conference League with them last term.

Rice was named West Ham United Young Player of the Year thrice before emerging as West Ham United Player of the Year during his last three seasons, and he still has an ongoing healthy relationship with his former boss, teammates and staff.

He has also forged a solid relationship with the staff at Arsenal, getting to know the names of the kitchen staff, and he has emerged as one of the leaders of the dressing room.

His teammates, the club staff, fans and pundits all agree that Rice has been a hit, and he has won seven out of 20 player-of-the-match awards (voted for by Arsenal fans) so far.

He has been one of their best and most consistent performers, and he will be eager to prove himself all over again when his former club visit Emirates Stadium this evening.