Arsenal winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has suggested that the Gunners' Premier League title bid hinges on how they negotiate the unforgiving festive period.
The injury-hit North Londoners host Sunderland at the Emirates on Saturday hoping to bounce back from a fruitless November which threw up just two points from a possible nine.
With six games to come in December - five in the Premier League, one in the Champions League - Oxlade-Chamberlain feels that it is a "massive" period which could make or break their season.
Arsene Wenger's side sit fourth in the table, two points behind co-leaders Manchester City and Leicester City.
"I think it's going to be massive," he told Arsenal's official website. "It is always really important because the games come thick and fast and if you have a good Christmas it can really start your new year off well.
"The table can really shuffle around because there are so many games in a short space of time, so it's very important. We are only two points off top spot, so it's vital to capitalise on this period because I do think it's never easy for any side.
"There are always some teams that do slip up or have a few bad results in this period, so it is obviously much better to be one of the sides that comes out of Christmas in a positive way. Ultimately that is the aim for us, and only being two points off the top, [if we have a good run] that would mean us staying right up there, if not going top of the table, going into the new year."
Arsenal, who have nine first-team players sidelined with injury, have not won a league title since 2004.
Shane Callaghan
