Arsenal star and golf-mad Rice meets up with McIlroy and West Ham fan Molinari

The Gunners have this weekend off as the Premier League begins its mid-season player break, splitting one round of fixtures across two weeks.

With clubs granting their stars a few days off to recuperate, Rice flew to the Middle East for a bit of his favourite hobby.

The golf-mad England star was a special guest at the DP World Tour's season-opening Dubai Invitational.

And Rice was given quite the welcome, stepping inside the ropes with world No.2 Rory McIlroy to watch a practice round.

McIlroy was seen laughing with Rice on the range before walking the course with the midfielder.

READ MORE ON ARSENAL

I was a Premier League manager and here's why Arsenal will find it hard in January

Simon Jordan makes brutal 'Pointless' jibe at Arsenal's £65m signing Kai Havertz

The Northern Irish golfer is obsessed with football, as demonstrated by his recent appearance on the 'Stick to Football' podcast, so the admiration probably goes both ways.

However, McIlroy is a Manchester United supporter, and fans were quick to speculate what they could have been joking about.

talkSPORT understands the Red Devils bid £100million to sign Rice in the summer of 2022, before he ended up joining Arsenal a year later.

Ex-West Ham star Rice also stopped to chat with former Open champion Francesco Molinari, who is a massive fan of the Hammers.

Most read in Football

Dragusin to join Spurs with Werner confirmed, Henderson and Sancho latest

'That's the difference' - Tottenham fans love Timo Werner's message in first interview

Silva appears to argue with angry Chelsea fans and Mauricio Pochettino offers explanation

Tottenham set to win Radu Dragusin race despite Bayern Munich hijack attempts

Like many professional footballers, Rice uses golf to stay active and unwind outside the demands of training and fixtures.

He recently appeared on the popular YouTube channel 'Tubes and Ange Golf Life' alongside ex-Premier League star Jimmy Bullard.

Gary Neville jokes that golf star Rory McIlroy should take Saudi-backed LIV Golf deal and buy stake in struggling Manchester United

And the 24-year-old already envisions a lot of golf in his future after retirement from football.

As per the Daily Mail, he has previously said: "You can take your mind off pretty much anything when you're having a round of golf.

"It's refreshing, I love those early mornings in the summer, walking around with dad or some of my mates, coffee on the go.

"I've had lessons before and I hope to be a half-decent player by the time I retire and get into those golf days!"