The question as to whether Arsenal can end their hoodoo of being on top at Christmas but not winning the league will start to be answered on Boxing Day.
Arsenal haven’t won the title in any of the last five seasons they were leading the way on Christmas Day.
But whatever happens in this round, Arsenal will be top going into the next.
A 2-0 success over Wolves before the World Cup break – their third league victory in a row – allowed the Gunners to move five points clear of Manchester City, who are not in action until Tuesday’s trip to Leeds United.
But things have developed since the break, star forward Gabriel Jesus is out with a knee injury. And City appear to have used the time off to prepare for a second half bid at breaking the Arsenal hearts.
If the mood at Arsenal is buzzing, the opposite can be said for the Hammers.
David Moyes’s underperforming charges, who have lost three Premier League games on the bounce and have won just one of their last six in the division, could therefore drop into the bottom three if festive results do not go their way.
Michail Antonio and Gianluca Scamacca are both out meaning Arsenal might have enough to keep the festive celebrations going.