Christmas Cheer for Gooners
For Arsenal fans, the holiday season evokes thoughts of a feast of football rather than presents, Santa, or turkey dinners. The tightly packed fixture list during late December has long been an English football tradition, offering supporters a chance to revel in a glut of games throughout the festive period and into the new year. Managers consider this stretch crucial for building momentum, while players aim to deliver memorable performances, often punctuated by spectacular goals.
Top Festive Scorers
During the Premier League era, several Gunners have brought joy to fans by consistently scoring around Christmas. Thierry Henry leads the pack with 14 goals, showcasing his affinity for the season with memorable performances, including a Boxing Day hat-trick against Leicester City in 2000, a brace against Wolves during the Invincibles campaign, and two goals against Portsmouth in 2005. Henry’s ability to shine during this period was evident throughout his eight-season first spell at the club, with goals scored every Christmas.
Trailing Henry are Ian Wright and Robin van Persie, both with 10 goals. Wright’s festive exploits include scoring in three consecutive matches in both 1993 and 1995. Van Persie, meanwhile, netted half of his tally in the 2006/07 season, highlighted by braces against Blackburn Rovers and Charlton Athletic.
Rising Star: Bukayo Saka
Bukayo Saka is rapidly climbing the festive goal chart, having scored eight times during this period. His first festive strike came on Boxing Day 2020 in a 3-1 victory over Chelsea, and he followed it up with a rich vein of form the next season, including a brace at Norwich City. Continuing his streak, Saka found the net against West Ham United and Brighton & Hove Albion last season and scored again on New Year’s Day against Fulham.
Memorable Hat-Tricks
Hat-tricks during the Christmas period are rare but unforgettable. In addition to Henry’s treble in 2000, Kevin Campbell notched three goals against Swindon Town in December 1993, and Theo Walcott achieved the feat during a thrilling 7-3 victory over Newcastle United in 2012. These standout performances have left an indelible mark on Arsenal’s festive football history.
First Festive Goals
The Christmas period has also been notable for players scoring their first Premier League goals for Arsenal. John Jensen, remembered for his lone strike for the club, achieved this milestone on New Year’s Eve 1994 against Queens Park Rangers, coinciding with Adrian Clarke’s Arsenal debut. Other players who opened their accounts during this time include Sol Campbell against Chelsea in 2001, Justin Hoyte in 2007 against Charlton Athletic, and Gabriel Paulista against Bournemouth in 2015. These moments provided an extra reason to celebrate during the holiday season.
Arsenal’s Festive Scoring Leaders
| Player | Goals |
|---|---|
| Thierry Henry | 14 |
| Ian Wright | 10 |
| Robin van Persie | 10 |
| Bukayo Saka | 8 |
| Theo Walcott | 8 |
| Kevin Campbell | 7 |
| Olivier Giroud | 7 |
| Alexandre Lacazette | 6 |
| Freddie Ljungberg | 6 |
| Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang | 6 |
The Gift of Goals
As the festive fixtures approach, fans eagerly anticipate more magical moments from their favorite Gunners. With a history of delivering during this period, Arsenal’s current stars, such as Bukayo Saka, look set to continue the tradition, bringing joy to supporters and creating new memories to cherish.
