Arsenal played their first ever Christmas Day game on this day in 1889.

On that day, Royal Arsenal beat Preston Hornets 5-0 at home.

The team to take to the field was: Beardsley, Crichton, McBean, Offer, Bates, Julian, Dixon, Campbell, Barbour, Charteris, Connolly.

The match was watched by approximately 4,000 people at the Sportsman Ground in Plumstead.

Goalkeeper on the day, Frank Beardsley, used to play for Nottingham Forest. It is from his old club that he obtained red kits for his team to use in these early days, setting the stage for the red and white kits we still use today.

Arsenal played Chelsea in their last ever league game to take place on Christmas Day at Highbury. The game, played in 1956, ended in a 1-1 draw.