Arsenal players from both the Women’s and Men’s team went to visit patients at Whittington Hospital, Homerton Hospital and Teenage Cancer Trust.
The players also had the chance to drop in at Blessed Sacrament primary school and Stoke Newington secondary school before the day was out, and really seemed to enjoy the opportunity to get out there and make some people happy.
- LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 05: Olivier Giroud visits the Teenage Cancer Trust Unit in University College Hospital on December 5, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Olivier Giroud
- LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 05: Olivier Giroud and Mesut Ozil visit the Teenage Cancer Trust Unit in University College Hospital on December 5, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Olivier Giroud; Mesut Ozil; Oezil
- LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 05: Olivier Giroud visits the Teenage Cancer Trust Unit in University College Hospital on December 5, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Olivier Giroud
- LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 05: Laurent Koscielny visits the Teenage Cancer Trust Unit in University College Hospital on December 5, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Laurent Koscielny
- LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 05: Laurent Koscielny visits the Teenage Cancer Trust Unit in University College Hospital on December 5, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Laurent Koscielny
- LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 05: Mesut Ozil visits the Teenage Cancer Trust Unit in University College Hospital on December 5, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Mesut Ozil; Oezil
- LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 05: Mesut Ozil visits the Teenage Cancer Trust Unit in University College Hospital on December 5, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Mesut Ozil; Oezil
- LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 05: Mesut Ozil visits the Teenage Cancer Trust Unit in University College Hospital on December 5, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Mesut Ozil; Oezil
- LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 05: Hector Bellerin visits the Teenage Cancer Trust Unit in University College Hospital on December 5, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Hector Bellerin
- LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 05: Mesut Ozil visits the Teenage Cancer Trust Unit in University College Hospital on December 5, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Mesut Ozil; Oezil
- LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 05: Mesut Ozil visits the Teenage Cancer Trust Unit in University College Hospital on December 5, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Mesut Ozil; Oezil
- LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 05: Hector Bellerin visits the Teenage Cancer Trust Unit in University College Hospital on December 5, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Hector Bellerin
- LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 05: (L-R) Per Mertesacker, Nacho Monreal, Sead Kolasinac, Alexis Sanchez Alex Scott, Heather O’Reilly and Granit Xhaka visits the Whittington Hospital on December 5, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Per Mertesacker;Sead Kolasinac;Nacho Monreal;Alexis Sanchez;Alex Scott;Granit Xhaka;Heather O’Reilly
- LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 05: (L) Arsenal womens Heather O’Reilly with (2ndL) Per Mertesacker, (2ndR) Alex Scott and Alexis Sanchez visit the Whittington Hospital on December 5, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Heather O’Reilly;Per Mertesacker;Alex Scott;Alexis Sanchez
- LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 05: (L-R) Arsenal’s Per Mertesacker, Granit Xhaka, Alexis Sanchez, Sead Kolasinac, Nacho Monreal, Alex Scott; Heather O’Reilly visit the Whittington Hospital on December 5, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Per Mertesacker;Granit Xhaka;Alexis Sanchez;Sead Kolasinac;Nacho Monreal;Heather O’Reilly
- LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 05: Arsenal’s Alex Scott visits the Whittington Hospital on December 5, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Alex Scott
- LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 05: (L-R) Arsenal’s Nacho Monreal, Sead Kolasinac, Alex Scott, Alexis Sanchez, Heather O’Reilly Granit Xhaka visit the Whittington Hospital on December 5, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Nacho Monreal;Sead Kolasinac;Alex Scott, Alexis Sanchez;Heather O’Reilly;Alexis Sanchez;Granit Xhaka
- LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 05: (L-R) Alexis Sanchez, Nacho Monreal, Per Mertesacker, Sead Kolasinac and Granit Xhaka visit the Whittington Hospital on December 5, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Alexis Sanchez;Nacho Monreal;Per Mertesacker;Sead Kolasianc;Granit Xhaka
- LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 05: <> on December 5, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
- LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 05: <> on December 5, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
- LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 05: <> on December 5, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
- LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 05: <> on December 5, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
- LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 05: <> on December 5, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
The Gunners gave out gifts, including DVDs, footballs and signed photos. They also played table football, and ran a couple of football sessions at the local schools.
These sorts of community events, as well as the refurbishment of astro-turf pitches and the opening of new playgrounds, are all funded by The Arsenal Foundation. Players will donate a day’s wages on December 16 to support these kinds of projects.
In the grand scheme of things, it’s not a massive amount to give up, but it’s still something fans can be proud of their club for doing.
No player thinks they’re above helping out and giving back, as even the likes of Mesut Özil and Alexis Sanchez turned up, and that must’ve made it even more special for the children.