Arsenal players Gabriel Jesus, Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Magalhaes with Apollo and dad George Kratsas at Whittington Hospital

THEY may be rivals on the pitch, but in the hallowed halls of the Ifor children’s ward at the Whittington Hospital, Arsenal and Tottenham players put on their biggest smiles to bring joy to young patients spending their Christmas in hospital.

One little boy who was overjoyed by the Arsenal team’s surprise visit earlier this month was Apollo.

Spurs players Giovani Lo Celso, Cristian Romero and Hugo Lloris visit a young patient at the Ifor children’s ward

His father George Kratsas said: “Apollo’s a die-hard Arsenal fan in the making. All my wife’s family support them, and they’ve turned me, a Panathinaikos fan, too.”

Arsenal players Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Magalhaes, and Gabriel Jesus brought gifts for the children and staff, posed for photos, and signed autographs, alongside Spurs players Hugo Lloris, Cristian Romero, and Giovani Lo Celso.