Ranking the 5 most entertaining Boxing Day matches in the Premier League era

#3 Arsenal 3-1 Chelsea (2020)

Arsenal ended their winless run in the Premier League with a strong performance against Chelsea.

Arsenal and Chelsea went into their Premier League Boxing Day clash last year in contrasting situations. Hosts Arsenal were hovering above the relegation zone, and were on a winless run. Meanwhile, Chelsea were climbing to the top, and needed a win to enter the top four.

The game began evenly, with both sides having their moments. Arsenal took the lead through Alexandre Lacazette's contentious penalty just past the half-hour mark. Granit Xhaka doubled the Gunners' lead before half-time with a scrumptious free-kick into the top corner.

Bukayo Saka put the result beyond doubt near the hour-mark to make it 3-0 for Arsenal. Tammy Abraham scored in the 85th minute to deny Bernd Leno a clean sheet. Leno then saved a spot-kick from Jorginho in second-half stoppage time to preserve Arsenal's two-goal lead.

You can watch the highlights of that game below:

The game sparked an overturn in Arsenal's form. Mikel Arteta's decision to introduce Emile Smith Rowe to the team and play Bukayo Saka on the right wing bore fruit.

It is also important to note that Saka, Smith Rowe and Gabriel Martinelli started for Arsenal together for the first time that day. A portend of things to come?

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#2 Bournemouth 3-3 West Ham United (2017)

Bournemouth and West Ham played a topsy-turvy game on Boxing Day in 2017.

Bournemouth and West Ham United engaged in a roller-coaster clash on Boxing Day during the 2017-18 Premier League season.

James Collins scored an early goal to give the Hammers the lead in the first half. Dan Gosling levelled the game for the hosts with a strike near the half-hour mark to spice up the contest. The Cherries then took the lead through Nathan Ake's strike in the 57th minute.

However, a quickfire brace from Marko Arnautovic saw West Ham lead 3-2 heading into second-half stoppage time. The game looked done and dusted until Callum Wilson came up with a clutch moment for Bournemouth in the 93rd minute.

Wilson bundled the ball into the net following a cross, but his goal was disallowed for offside initially. However, after consulting his assistant, referee Bobby Madley overruled the call and awarded the goal.

Replays later showed Wilson was offside. and may even have handled the ball before scoring. Nevertheless, it was a thriller to be remembered.

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#1 Manchester City 5-1 Hull City (2008)

A freshly-taken-over Manchester City showed early signs of dominance with a thumping 5-1 win.

Manchester City's demolition of Hull City will be remembered for two significant reasons - one related to football - the other, not so much.

Surprise package Hull City sat sixth in the Premier League table heading into Boxing Day, just five points off fourth place. Manchester City, meanwhile, languished in 18th place in the standings, just three points off the bottom spot.

City came out all guns blazing against Hull City, rushing into a four-goal lead heading into half-time. Felipe Caicedo and Robinho netted braces to put City in an unassailable position. Craig Fagan scored a consolation goal in the 80th minute to deny City a clean sheet. However, Stephen Ireland rounded off the rout with a goal a few minutes later.

The game marked the first of many such scorelines Manchester City went on to post over the years. It also had an incredible moment - Hull City manager telling his players off publicly, on the pitch, in front of the traveling Tigers' fans!

Brown later said that some major issues needed ironing out, including players' over-indulgence on Christmas Day and unrest in the dressing room.

The moment received mixed reactions from outside the club. Within the club, though, other plans were brewing. Jimmy Bullard recreated Phil Brown's team talk as a celebratory move with his teammates after scoring a goal.

Bullard equalised for Hull City from the spot just before half-time. and ran to celebrate towards the team's fans. He then remembered it was the same end where Brown had delivered an infamous team talk exactly a year ago.

Nevertheless, it was another memorable Premier League moment in a league that has always entertained.