Welcome home party for Rice could turn nasty as Arsenal take on West Ham in EFL Cup

It will be an emotional night for Declan Rice, as his Arsenal face Rice's former love, West Ham, in the EFL League Cup fourth-round tie at the London Stadium on Wednesday night.

Rice made almost 250 appearances for West Ham and captained them to a Europa Conference League triumph in June before moving to North London in a £105m transfer.

The 24-year-old midfielder should be 'welcomed back with open arms', thinks the Hammers' boss David Moyes.

"You've got to remember this is the man who lifted this club's first European trophy in more than 50 years. He should be welcomed back with open arms. We're all looking forward to seeing him again.

"He was a brilliant member of the team. He led the team brilliantly well. He conducted himself impeccably as a West Ham captain and as a player.

"The most important thing was that he gave 100% in every game, even though we sort of knew he probably wasn't going to stay at West Ham.

"I'm really looking forward to seeing Dec again. I've not seen him since he left. I don't know if I want him to play, but I hope he's there."

Moyes' counterpart Mikel Arteta said it was "likely" Rice would play some part against the club he joined as a 14-year-old.

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

"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."

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Striker Gabriel Jesus will not feature because of a hamstring injury and midfielder Thomas Partey is out with a muscle injury, while captain Martin Odegaard is again likely to be rested as he recovers from a hip complaint.

On the other hand, for West Ham, defender Vladimir Coufal and ex-Arsenal goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski are available after missing Thursday's Europa League game at Olympiakos, with Coufal starting in the 1-0 home loss to Everton on Sunday.

EFL CUP - 1/8 FINALS

Tuesday

Exeter - Middlesbrough 2-3 (1-0)

/Trevitt 13, 66 - Rogers 59, Silvera 69, Latte Lath 82 pen/

Mansfield - Port Vale 0-1 (0-0)

/Devine 50/

Wednesday

22:30: (3.30) West Ham (3.40) Arsenal (2.20)

22:45: (3.35) Ipswich (3.45) Fulham (2.15)

22:45: (1.98) Everton (3.45) Burnley (3.90)

22:45: (6.50) Bournemouth (4.30) Liverpool (1.50)

22:45: (1.28) Chelsea (5.90) Blackburn (9.50)

23:15: (2.25) Man.Utd. (3.40) Newcastle (3.20)

***odds are subject to change***