Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil and Laurent Koscielny among Arsenal stars to pay visit to local hospitals ahead of clash with BATE Borisov

  • Arsenal players dropped into Whittington Hospital on Tuesday afternoon
  • Stars from the Premier League side also paid visit to University College Hospital
  • Arsenal stars gave presents to the children as well as playing games with them
  • Arsene Wenger's side take on BATE Borisov in the Europa League on Thursday 

Arsenal stars took the opportunity to give back to the community on Tuesday afternoon as they paid a visit to various hospitals in London

Arsenal's players appeared to relish the chance to visit both Whittington Hospital and University College Hospital ahead of Christmas

Arsene Wenger's men were pictured giving Christmas presents to patients, as well as playing games, including snooker and table football, with the children in the wards.

Arsenal stars paid a visit to Whittington Hospital on Tuesday and gave the patients presents

Arsenal stars paid a visit to Whittington Hospital on Tuesday and gave the patients presents

Arsenal star Chile international Alexis Sanchez takes a selfie with a child at the hospital

Arsenal star Chile international Alexis Sanchez takes a selfie with a child at the hospital

Sanchez poses for a picture as he took time out of his football duties to visit the hospital

Sanchez poses for a picture as he took time out of his football duties to visit the hospital

Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka was all smiles as he spent time giving back to the community

Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka was all smiles as he spent time giving back to the community

The likes of Alexis Sanchez, Granit Xhaka and Per Mertesacker attended Whittington Hospital, alongside Arsenal Women's stars Heather O'Reilly and Alex Scott.


Meanwhile, Mesut Ozil, Laurent Koscielny, Olivier Giroud and Co dropped into the Teenage Cancer Trust Unit at University College Hospital on Tuesday.

Wenger allowed his star players to take a break from football ahead of Arsenal's deadrubber Europa League clash against BATE Borisov at the Emirates on Thursday night.

The Gunners secured top spot in their Europa League group last time out in the competition despite their narrow 1-0 defeat by Bundesliga side Cologne. 

Players from both the men's and women's team pose for a picture with the hospital staff

Players from both the men's and women's team pose for a picture with the hospital staff

Olivier Giroud and Mesut Ozil were among the stars to visit the University College Hospital 

Olivier Giroud and Mesut Ozil were among the stars to visit the University College Hospital 

Theo Walcott and Laurent Koscielny play Connect Four with a child on Tuesday afternoon

Theo Walcott and Laurent Koscielny play Connect Four with a child on Tuesday afternoon

Wenger is very much likely to play another second-string side when they take on the Belarusian outfit in north London on Thursday.

Arsenal go into the European clash on the back of their 3-1 defeat by Manchester United and Wenger will be hoping his side bounce back quickly ahead of their Premier League encounter against Southampton at St Mary's on Sunday.

Arsenal currently sit fifth in the English top flight on 28 points from 15 matches, one point behind fourth-placed Liverpool. 

Walcott plays snooker at the Teenage Cancer Trust Unit at the University College Hospital

Walcott plays snooker at the Teenage Cancer Trust Unit at the University College Hospital

Spanish right back Hector Bellerin reacts as he plays table football at the hospital

Spanish right back Hector Bellerin reacts as he plays table football at the hospital

Koscielny and Walcott also enjoyed a game of table football while Ozil watched on

Koscielny and Walcott also enjoyed a game of table football while Ozil watched on