Arsenal stars Per Mertesacker, Wojciech Szczesny and Mathieu Flamini get into the festive spirit as carol singers join in training

Fulham vs Man City - Premier League: Ruben Dias starts for the visitors in place of Kyle Walker - as Pep Guardiola's side look to move to the top of the table with a win at Craven Cottage
Kylian Mbappe 'will receive a mammoth PAY CUT ahead of joining Real Madrid' - as departing superstar confirms he is leaving PSG in farewell video... but which two key figures did the France captain fail to mention?
Meltdown at Man United: The mood is worse than during the last days of Mourinho, 'rock bottom' is a fond memory and nobody knows what the plan is - plus, how Erik ten Hag infuriated one big-name star
Al-Hilal plot shock swoop for Richarlison as Ange Postecoglou prepares to overhaul Tottenham's squad this summer - as calf injury ends the Brazilian's season prematurely
Adam Idah and Oh Hyeon-gyu are BOTH 9/2 to score first at Celtic Park in Old Firm clash - as rivals Celtic and Rangers meet in a potentially league-defining fixture
Forget the idea that Hollywood A-listers are buying into our clubs for romance and love of the game. There's only one reason Ryan Reynolds and Co want a slice of the action, writes MIKE KEEGAN
Novak Djokovic falls to the floor and requires medical treatment after being struck in the head by a bottle dropped by a fan in the crowd as he signed autographs at the Italian Open in Rome
Jamie Carragher rejects comparisons between Erik ten Hag's first two seasons at Man United and Mikel Arteta's at Arsenal... as he claims there is 'one big difference' between them
Inside Harry Kane's German misery: He lives in the Beverly Hills of Bavaria but his suffering just won't stop. Sources close to the 'cursed' England captain reveal what's REALLY going through his head...
The football manager sacked for sleeping with one of his players. Defiant Leicester boss Willie Kirk says he is being 'treated like a criminal' and sets the record straight on relationship
David Moyes will never be revered at West Ham like he is at Everton. But he should be. His reign there IS a success story, writes IAN LADYMAN
They've landed a Belgian club with a transfer ban and ruined an Aussie airline... these sharks should NEVER have been allowed to circle Everton, writes IAN HERBERT
Kylian Mbappe finally CONFIRMS he is leaving PSG at the end of the season in emotional video, admitting he 'needs a new challenge' as French star gets set to join Real Madrid in huge summer move
England legend Jimmy Anderson will end his international career this summer after Brendon McCullum told him he is NOT in his plans... with the 41-year-old frustrated he wasn't able to announce his departure on his own terms
Erik ten Hag bemoans Man United's rising number of absences but the Red Devils don't even crack the TOP THREE for games missed due to injuries this season - with one club miles ahead of the rest
These United players need to take a good look in the mirror, grow a pair and stop blaming everyone else
Arne Slot 'is set to replace Jurgen Klopp in his house as well as the Liverpool dugout as the Dutchman plans to move into the departing manager's £4m Merseyside mansion'
LIV Golf star unleashes astonishing attack on 'talentless fool' Brandel Chamblee over his shock PGA Tour-PIF U-turn... and claims 'p*ssy' analyst is 'disliked by most people in golf world'
Julian Ward is set for shock Liverpool return as technical director of FSG - just 18 months after leaving - as the Reds also poach Benfica chief Pedro Marques as part of backroom reshuffle
Oleksandr Usyk claims Tyson Fury 'deserves an Oscar' if he faked eye injury that caused the heavyweights' fight to be postponed... as he looks forward to FINALLY taking on the Brit
Revealed: Why Oleksandr Usyk wears straps on his arms ahead of blockbuster Tyson Fury clash... as the Ukrainian boasts 'the hard work is done' for the heavyweight bout
Revealed: What Tyson Fury 'will earn from his huge unification fight against Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia' - and the 'rare clause' that's included in the purse
Troy Deeney claims 'Tottenham should WANT to help Arsenal win the Premier League' by beating Man City on Tuesday - and brands Spurs fans 'f****** weird' if they disagree
Brazil captain Casemiro's dismal season goes from bad to worse as he is DROPPED for the Copa America amid Man United struggles... while Antony, Richarlison and Gabriel Jesus also miss out on the squad

Gunners stars chanted at by carol singers in new BT Sport advert
Goalkeeper Szczesny looks surprised, while Mathieu Flamini gives a wave
Per Mertesacker enjoys being called a 'big festive German'
Players suggest Santi Cazorla as the club's Father Christmas
Szczesny mocks Spaniard's tendency to put on weight during holidays

Published: 16:45 EDT, 19 December 2014 | Updated: 19:33 EDT, 19 December 2014

e-mail

Three of Arsenal's key defensive players showed they are ready for a busy festive period as they joined in with carol singers at the club's training ground.

Goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, centre back Per Mertesacker and holding midfielder Mathieu Flamini were accosted by the singers as part of BT Sport's new Christmas football marketing campaign.

Szczesny is given a blast of the classic 'shall we sing a song for you?', but looks surprised before walking away.

Per Mertesacker smiles at the carol singers while enjoying a shower at Arsenal's training ground

Defensive midfielder Mathieu Flamini offers a wave at the request of the singing fans

The group of carol singers sneak up on Wojciech Szczesny while he is training, much to the keeper's surprise

Flamini, despite looking somewhat confused, offered the singers a wave when they came into the dressing room, but it was Mertesacker who steals the show in the new adverts.

The German, who is set to captain Arsenal through the Christmas period, in the continued absence of Mikel Arteta, joins in with the singers' chants of 'Big Festive German', a play on his nickname at the Emirates stadium.

The Gunners stars also revealed their favourite Christmas songs, with Mertesacker a big fan of Wham's classic 'Last Christmas', while Szczesny prefers 'Rocking around the Christmas Tree'.

Flamini and Szczesny both agreed that Santi Cazorla would be the best choice of Aresnal player to be Santa Claus, because of his tendency to put on a bit of weight during holidays.

The advert is the second featuring BT Sport's Christmas choir - another shows the group outside a house singing songs often heard on the terraces at Manchester United and Chelsea games.

BT Sport's Christmas choir feature in two funny adverts as the channel gear up for their festive coverage

ARSENAL PLAYERS REVEAL THEIR CHRISTMAS FAVOURITES

PER MERTESACKER

Who would be the best player to dress up as Santa Claus?

We have a lovely chef who would love to be Santa Claus! There's no particular player who could be a good Santa Claus!

What's your favorite thing about Christmas?

In Germany we celebrate on Christmas Eve and in England you celebrate on 25 December so in England, now I have two days to celebrate, so its an extra Christmas for me.

What's top of your Christmas list this year?

I want to stay as healthy as possible until the last day of this year. And then I'm going to try to put my focus on family time. I will be there for my family and take care of them.

Who is the biggest Scrooge in the squad?

I just concentrate on celebrating my Christmas!

What's your favourite Christmas song?

'Last Christmas', it comes up every Christmas and is kind of a one hit wonder and is loved by everyone!

Is there anything you're not allowed at Christmas because you're playing?

You can't go crazy. You can celebrate but you have to always be aware that there's going to be a match one or two days after Christmas. So really we're focused on the next games. I try as much as I can to celebrate with the family and to feel that its Christmas time. Time to relax and I really look forward to it.

MATHIEU FLAMINI

Who would be the best player to dress up as Santa Claus?

Santi Cazorla. That would be funny. We have a chef, the cook, who really looks like Santa Claus. Or Santi.

What's your favorite thing about Christmas?

The best thing is the opportunity to be together with the family and be with family members that we cannot always see during the year. But Christmas is a great opportunity to be with all family and to be united.

What's top of your Christmas list this year?

For me the most important thing is to be healthy. To be happy, to have the love of family, love of friends. And after, in terms of professional aspects, to be successful.

Who is the biggest Scrooge in the squad?

Everyone is very excited about Christmas and generous and giving to others. So I don't think we have anyone like that in our team.

What's your favourite Christmas song?

'Jingle Bells'. Definitely my favourite.

Is there anything you're not allowed at Christmas because you're playing?

We don't drink, with playing every 3 days, its not a good thing to do. So we leave the alcohol on the side to make sure we are focused on the games.

WOJCIECH SZCZESNY

Who would be the best player to dress up as Santa Claus?

I'd love to see Per Mertesacker dress up as him. But when he retires I think Santi Cazorla will look just like Father Christmas as he has a thing when he goes on holiday he can look just like him and put on some weight!

What's your favorite thing about Christmas?

Just the family getting together and spending time with my cousins.

What's top of your Christmas list this year?

I'm not too much into presents. I'm looking forward to spending time with family. It's the only time when my whole family comes to London. That's top of my wish list.

Who is the biggest Scrooge in the squad?

Podolski. He moans all the time and he doesn't even enjoy Christmas!

What's your favourite Christmas song?

'Rocking around the Christmas tree'. I love that. In my first year at the club I had to sing for the first team!

Is there anything you're not allowed at Christmas because you're playing?

We have to stick to the diet. I do love Christmas food. I try to enjoy it without being silly. But we have to look after ourselves.

BT Sport is getting into the festive spirit with a new Christmas football marketing campaign that sees the BT Sport Christmas choir perform a variety of unexpected and light-hearted carols. Manchester City v Crystal Palace is live on BT Sport 1 from midday Saturday as one of six exclusively live games over the festive period including Boxing Day and New Year's Day double-headers.