Arsene Wenger says he enjoys Christmas fixtures because they are “part of English tradition and English football”.

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal this week called for English football to introduce a winter break.

Wenger has himself made similar suggestions in the past, but would not want matches played in December to be affected.

“I had [Van Gaal’s] ideas when I arrived here but today I would cry if you changed that because it’s part of English tradition and English football,” he said.

“To suppress the game on Boxing Day… The whole of Europe comes to England to watch the game.

“It’s a very important part of us being popular in the world, that nobody works at Christmas and everybody watches the Premier League.

“I want to go on with it, yes. I always pleaded for a break after January 1, but we have to keep this tradition alive.”

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