Arsenal fans enjoyed - or should that be endured - perhaps the game of the weekend, as their side took part in a thrilling 3-3 draw with Liverpool on Friday night.
Now the Gunners return to action on Thursday night, when they head to rejuvenated Crystal Palace.
Roy Hodgson's side are now out of the relegation zone, and have taken 12 points from their last six games.
Their early season misery looks well and truly behind them.
The Gunners saw both Tottenham and Liverpool, as well as Chelsea, claim wins on Boxing Day, leaving them in sixth, four points off the top four.
Arsene Wenger's side have won just one of their last five games, and need to get back to winning ways asap. There's no better place for them to start than Selhurst Park.
Below is everything Wenger had to say on the matter, and much more besides.
Team News for Thursday
Arsene Wenger has ruled out Aaron Ramsey until the new year, while Olivier Giroud faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
Arsenal take on Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Thursday, needing three points to keep pace with Liverpool and Tottenham in the race for a top four finish.
Wenger revealed he is contending with a trio of absentees for the big game, but offered a glimmer of hope over Giroud’s rehabilitation.
“Monreal, Giroud And Ramsey are out. Nacho ten days, Giroud four to six weeks but he is a quick healer, Ramsey beginning of January,” Wenger said.
“Giroud will be back at the beginning of January. He suffered the injury in the middle of December so four to six weeks is January 10-15.”
Arsenal squad : Cech, Ospina, Mertesacker, Holding, Mustafi, Koscielny, Chambers, Debuchy, Bellerin, Nelson, Kolasinac, Maitland-Niles, Coquelin, Wilshere, Xhaka, Elneny, Ozil, Iwobi, Sanchez, Welbeck, Walcott, Lacazette.
Wenger: I would scrap January window
“I would scrap the transfer window in January, completely cut it off,” Wenger told Arsenal Player.
“The players today are very well paid, they make a lot of money. What you want in return is commitment to the club for the whole season. I think that’s absolutely vital. I think you should not be able to move once the season has started until the end of the season.
“Nobody knows [how it would affect pre-season if the window closed then]. I believe people would adapt and make their decisions earlier.
“What happens now is that you’re contacted 48 hours before the end of the transfer market and people ask if you’re still interested in a player you worked on for three months. They close the door and open it suddenly with two days to go.
“It’s all rushed decisions and hectic in the last week. I believe that is not right.”
Wenger expects Sanchez to stay
Arsene Wenger insists Alexis Sanchez will remain at Arsenal next month - and says he is open to adding to his squad in the transfer window.
“We have not been approached by anyone. Other than that I stand by what I have said before,” said Wenger, when asked about a potential Sanchez departure next month.
“In the transfer window I will be busy.
“Clubs will contact us to buy and loan players and I will be open to any possibilities to strengthen our team.”
Wenger hits out at whinging Jose
Wenger has told Jose Mourinho he has spent 21 years not being able to spend as much as his title rivals.
Manchester United boss Mourinho has spent nearly £300m but claims it is still not enough to compete with Manchester City.
But Wenger smiled when told of Mourinho’s comments and claimed that he has always been an underdog in financial terms and even more so now.
Gunners boss Wenger said:
“I have been in that position for 21 years so I can’t start to complain now. There have always been three or four teams richer than I am. I’ve learned to cope with that.
“We deal with our own situation as well as we can. Man.City, Chelsea and Man United are all richer than us. Have to find ways to be successful.”
Record-levelling Wenger
Arsene Wenger will equal Sir Alex Ferguson’s record for most games as a Premier League manager when Arsenal take on Crystal Palace.
Wenger’s 810th game since taking charge of the Gunners in 1996 moves him alongside the long-serving former Manchester United boss.
He will surpass the Scot by taking charge of the game at West Brom on New Year’s Eve - Ferguson’s 76th birthday.
Arsene's new year resolution
Wenger’s new year resolution?
Spirit.
Enthusiasm.
Not conceding and scoring more.
Simple.
Did Giroud's wife kill off Everton move?
Sam Allardyce has claimed he’s keen on signing Olivier Giroud - but doesn’t believe the Frenchman’s wife will allow for a move to Merseyside.
That’s certainly tickled Arsene Wenger, when asked about Mrs. Giroud putting her foot down.
“No, I don’t think so. He could have joined Everton and stayed basically in London.
“I don’t think that was the problem.”
Should he stay?
Or should Arsenal move on and let him leave?
Wilshere's contract
Jack Wilshere has fought his way back into the Gunners’ Premier League side.
He started at West Ham and again against Liverpool on Friday night.
But his contract continues to count down towards its climax.
According to Wenger, he still hopes to tie down the England man to a new deal.
And he believes that, provided the finances are right, Wilshere too will remain.
More on Giroud.
Actually, scratch that.
Giroud could be back on January 15 says Wenger.
Which, isn’t 4-6 weeks at all.
Injury updates
First up then, injuries.
Monreal is out for 10 days.
Aaron Ramsey won’t be back until early January.
And as for Olivier Giroud, he’s looking at 4-6 weeks on the sidelines.
Arsene in the house!
Ready to roll!
Arsene’s arrived and is in position.
Let’s hear what he has to say...
Right then.
Ready for le Boss?
He’ll be here shortly.
George Weah thanks God and "father figure" Arsene Wenger for his remarkable career
George Weah has has described Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger as a “father figure” and attributed his success in Europe to the Frenchman.
Wenger was Weah’s manager at Monaco, where he spent four successful years before joining Paris Saint-Germain and then AC Milan.
Weah, currently bidding to become president of Liberia, remains the only African footballer to be crowned World Player of the Year.
But those heights would never have been reached, Weah insists, without the support and guidance of Wenger.
“He was a father figure and regarded me as his son,” Weah told the Guardian. “This was a man, when racism was at its peak, who showed me love. He wanted me to be on the pitch for him every day.
“One day, I was quite tired of training and told him that I was having a headache. He said to me: ‘George, I know it’s tough but you need to work hard. I believe that with your talent, you can become one of the best players in the world.’
“So, I listened and kept going on. Besides God, I think that without Arsène, there was no way I would have made it in Europe.”
Time for another Giroud stunner?
Olivier Giroud and Crystal Palace?
It only means one thing.
Yep..goals.
And not just tap ins!
Morning all
It’s a new dawn.
It’s a new day.
It’s...well it’s the same old Arsenal.
Friday night’s draw with Liverpool was the Gunners in mircrocosm.
Dismal for 50 minutes, they then put in an outstanding five minute spell and scored three times - before being unable to see it out and having to settle for a point.
Now, four points off the top four, they head to Crystal Palace in desperate need of victory.
They simply cannot let those above get away from them any further.
Arsene Wenger will be talking about the game to come and no doubt the transfer window - Alexis Sanchez’s future will likely be on the agenda - as well as a host of other things.
So stick the kettle on, take a seat and we’ll keep you updated with everything from the Gunners boss right here.
Ready? Let’s roll...