Declan Rice's return to West Ham in Carabao Cup will be 'beautiful' says Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta believes Declan Rice should relish his return to West Ham tomorrow.

The England international will lock horns with his former employers for the first time since swapping the London Stadium for the Emirates this summer in a transfer worth £104m.

The two teams go head-to-head in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup, and Arteta is urging the midfielder to enjoy the occasion.

"It will be his first time back at his old club and a beautiful moment for him," he said.

"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."

Rice's final game for the Hammers was a memorable one, as he captained the side to a 2-1 victory over Fiorentina in the final of the Europa Conference League.

That was his 245th appearance for the club he joined as a boy, as well as the Irons' first major trophy since lifting the FA Cup in 1980.

For Arsenal, silverware has been much more forthcoming in the intervening years, but they have only won the League Cup twice since it was first contested in 1960/61.

With a huge Premier League clash against Newcastle coming up this weekend, the Gunners, second in the table, could be forgiven for not prioritising this fixture.

Yet, although Arteta is expected to rotate his squad, he is desperate for a deep run in the competition.

"It's a competition we have the chance to progress in and win a trophy," he continued.

"Our mindset has to be focused on West Ham. 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."

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