West Ham fans tell Arsenal star Declan Rice he downgraded as UEFA update Coefficient rankings

Arsenal have dropped below West Ham in UEFA’s latest Coefficient rankings – leading Hammers fans to banter former skipper Declan Rice.

The England international swapped the London Stadium for the Emirates last month in a deal rising to £105million.

Rice starred as West Ham won the Europa Conference League last season

But he upset Hammers fans after joining their London rivals Arsenal in JulyGetty

Rice, who joined West Ham at age of 14 following his Chelsea release, captained the club to their first trophy since 1980.

West Ham triumphed over Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final in June, which turned out to be his last appearance for the east Londoners.

A section of the club’s fanbase took exception to the 24-year-old joining their city rivals instead of Pep Guardiola’s treble-winning Manchester City side.

And they have now gleefully poked fun at the midfielder, with West Ham a place above the Gunners in UEFA’s Coefficient rankings.

Updated on Saturday morning, Arsenal have dropped from 23rd at the start of the 2022/23 season to 28th.

Meanwhile West Ham have risen from 36th to 27th as a result of third-tier European trophy success.

Quick to take aim at the Community Shield winner on social media, one Hammers supporter quipped: “Rice quite literally downgraded.”

Another tweeted: “West Ham are now 27th in the UEFA Club Coefficient rankings, one place above Arsenal in 28th. CC: Declan Rice.”

Fans have poked fun at Rice with West Ham above Arsenal in the UEFA coefficient rankingsGetty

A third added: “Rankings are never wrong.”

This supporter posted: “This is actually hilarious.”

Another simply stated: “Rice has literally downgraded.”

Though Arsenal – and Rice – look to have the last laugh with Mikel Arteta’s side to be playing in the Champions League this campaign.

Last season’s European Cup winners Manchester City are unsurprisingly top of the UEFA Coefficients rankings.

Fellow Premier League clubs Chelsea [fourth], Liverpool [fifth] and Manchester United [seventh] also feature in the top ten.

Harry Kane’s new team Bayern Munich is second, with LaLiga giants Real Madrid completing the top three.