WEST HAM fans gleefully mocked their Arsenal counterparts as their side delivered a Hammer blow to the Gunners’ fading title hopes.
Graham Potter’s side conjured a brilliant performance to beat Arsenal 1-0 at the Emirates on Saturday afternoon.
The Gunners’ defeat saw them remain eight points behind leaders Liverpool, with Arne Slot’s men possessing an opportunity to make it 11 when they face Manchester City this afternoon.
After Jarrod Bowen’s 44th minute header gave their side the lead, it was truly party time for the Hammers’ faithful in the away end.
With Arsenal having finished as runners-up in the last two seasons, and sitting in the same position at the moment, West Ham fans chanted: “Second again, ole ole.”
Hammers supporters also directed a pair of cheeky songs towards their former captain Declan Rice.
The West Ham academy graduate, 26, left the London Stadium for Arsenal in a £105million deal two summers ago.
He won the Europa Conference League as Hammers skipper, but is yet to win a major trophy with Arsenal.
As Rice went over to take a corner in front of the away end, they sang: “You should have signed for a big club.”
The song was repeated as Rice was replaced by Myles Lewis-Skelly, who was sent off just 17 minutes after coming on.
West Ham supporters also mocked their former captain with a chant bigging up this season’s cult hero Andy Irving.
They sang: “You’re just a s*** Andy Irving.”
After he was substituted, Rice looked furious as he sat on the bench.
West Ham’s win was just their second in seven games under new boss Potter.
They remain 16th in the Premier League table, but are only behind Manchester United on goal difference.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was left raging after his side’s defeat.
‘I AM VERY, VERY, VERY ANGRY’
He said: “I refuse that completely because I am talking about the standards of the players and the team that played today, me included, and that was nowhere near the levels that we have to hit to have the opportunity to win the Premier League.
“Very disappointed, obviously very angry as well. I think you have to congratulate West Ham for the victory and the game that they played.
“But there was a lot from our side that we never got right and didn’t allow us to get enough momentum, enough sequences of play with positive action that could deliver situations of threat for them.”
He went on to add: “So I am very, very, very angry.”
Arsenal will return to action on Wednesday night with a tricky trip to Nottingham Forest.
West Ham, meanwhile, will host Leicester 24 hours later.
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