In pictures: This is how Arsenal stars enjoyed their Christmas

Arsenal players happily put aside their festive mood for a cheerful Christmas Day training.

The Gunners prepared for Boxing Day night’s fixture with Southampton on 25^th December before they spent time with their families for Christmas.

Laurent Koscielny. image courtesy: Twitter

Theo Walcott. image courtesy; Twitter

Arsene Wenger revealed he always follow this routine to get his team into London Colney early on the 25th to make it sure they can get away early.

Per Mertesacker. image courtesy: Twitter

But while they spend their Christmas time, the French tactician warns them that the focus should remain on getting three points at St Mary’s.

Arsene Wenger with Debuchy. image courtesy: Twitter

Wenger later said “The day is completely focused on football We don’t have a real Christmas but we have Christmas the whole year, so we can pay back the people who sit at home.

“There’s two Christmas Days. In England, it is on December 25 so on the day we practice a bit earlier to give English players time to be back early.

“In my country and the Latin countries, Christmas usually happens on December 24 in the evening.

“We adapt to the English schedule because we are in England, so on the 25th we practice a bit earlier to get people home for their Christmas lunch.”

Kieran Gibbs and Ben Sheaf. image courtesy: Twitter

The Gunners boss also believes that teams now are more physical than they were in the past; which means possession doesn’t always win the game. That is the reason he believes why more and more teams enjoying success this campaign.

Wenger talks to Ramsey. image courtesy: Twitter

Arsenal enjoyed their fourth consecutive win with victory against Manchester City on Monday Night Football as Mesut Ozil produced his 14th and 15th assists of this season in a man-of-the-match performance.

Olivier Giroud. image courtesy: Twitter

The Arsenal playmaker thinks his team-mates have the belief and confidence to run for the title, and they now face a relatively easy Christmas fixture list with all three games against opposition who are currently in the bottom half of the league table.