We may not be in action this Boxing Day, but one of the most traditional days of the English football calendar has provided our supporters with heaps of memories for decades.
With Christmas cheer still in the air, we have put in some fine performances down the years to extend the festive merriment for all Gooners, and some stunning goals have graced those games to warm the souls of all braving the wintery air to watch us in action.
In the absence of match action today, we've picked out five of the best from the 21st century for you to enjoy again ahead of our game against Ipswich Town tomorrow:
**5\. Granit Xhaka v Chelsea (2020)**
Granit Xhaka added another to his collection of spectacular left-footed strikes in 2020.
In a match played behind closed doors, the Swiss international stood over a free-kick 25 yards out. His dipping effort flew over the wall, beating goalkeeper Edouard Mendy after perfectly finding the top right-hand corner.
It made the score 2-0 in a game that ultimately finished 3-1, and ended our run of four matches without a win.
**4\. Eddie Nketiah v West Ham United (2022)**
One of Eddie’s finest goals to date came last year in a 3-1 victory over the Hammers.
As we led 2-1 in the second half, Ben White received the ball on the right and flicked it past an onrushing defender to find Martin Odegaard, who played a first-time pass into Eddie’s feet.
The striker then pulled off a majestic turn in the box before drilling a low shot into the far corner to seal a win that sent us seven points clear at the top of the Premier League, and showcased the Hale End graduate’s strength and composure in front of goal.
**3\. Bukayo Saka v Norwich City (2021)**
Our 5-0 win at Carrow Road in 2021 featured a few brilliant team goals, but Bukayo’s second strike of the game was the pick of the bunch.
We found ourselves 2-0 in front after the attacker opened the scoring and Kieran Tierney doubled the advantage, but then the England international received the ball on the right edge of the Canaries’ box.
He faked a move inside and paused, freezing Brandon Williams, before jinking to his left and unleashing a trademark left-footed shot across Angus Gunn and into the far corner.
Alexandre Lacazette and Emile Smith Rowe then completed the scoring in one of our finest Boxing Day performances.
**2\. Robin Van Persie v Watford (2006)**
This was one of our most crucial Boxing Day goals, as Robin van Persie produced a fantastic late winner in a 2-1 victory over Watford.
With us struggling to break down our opponents at Vicarage Road, the Dutchman came off the bench and made the difference in the 83rd minute.
He was released down the right wing by a pass from Theo Walcott and raced towards the box. Hornets defender Jay DeMerit tried to show him down the line, but Van Persie cleverly wrong-footed him by cutting inside, and whipped a left-footed finish past Ben Foster with tremendous pace to earn us all three points.
**1\. Thierry Henry v Leicester City (2000)**
Our all-time top goalscorer netted seven goals on Boxing Day during his career – the fifth-most of any Premier League player – and three of them came in this win over Leicester in 2000.
Henry’s first goal was his finest. He lurked outside the opposition box as Robert Pires floated in a corner from the right and met the dropping ball with impeccable timing on the half-volley, firing a shot through a crowd and into the bottom-right corner.
Patrick Vieira, Freddie Ljungberg and Tony Adams also got on the scoresheet, but the game was all about Henry’s hat-trick – the first of his nine for Arsenal – and the classy finish that opened the scoring.
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