We continued our long standing Christmas tradition of spreading some festive cheer in our local community this week.

Arsène Wenger’s squad and members of Arsenal Women visited hospitals and schools in north London – meeting local youngsters and handing out Christmas presents.

Players visited young patients at Whittington Hospital, Homerton Hospital and Teenage Cancer Trust. 

We also dropped in on Blessed Sacrament primary school, to help out with an Arsenal in the Community Double Club session and Stoke Newington secondary school for a girls’ football session.

Click here for pictures from all the visits

The visit comes ahead of The Arsenal Foundation’s dedicated charity matchday against Newcastle United on December 16, when the manager and first team players will donate a day’s wages to support projects in the local community, and around the world.

Teenage Cancer Trust and Stoke Newington School - where the Foundation has helped to refurbish a new astro-turf pitch - are two of the many organisations the charity matchday has been able to support already.  

Per Mertesacker, who led the trip to the Whittington, said: "I’ve been at Arsenal for seven years now and this is my seventh visit to Whittington Hospital. It means a lot to us – for the men’s and women’s players - to all come together and give a little bit back. Especially at this time of year.”