By Olukayode Olumuyiwa.
Arsenal finished 2025 with a commanding performance at the Emirates Stadium, defeating third-placed Aston Villa 4-1 to solidify their position at the top of the Premier League table. The victory was a significant marker for Mikel Arteta’s side, as it ended Villa’s impressive eleven-match winning streak across all competitions and extended Arsenal’s lead to five points over Manchester City, who hold a game in hand.
The first half was a tightly contested affair characterized by tactical discipline from both managers. Arsenal had to navigate the match without key midfielder Declan Rice, who was sidelined with a knee injury. Despite his absence, the Gunners controlled much of the possession, though they struggled to break through a resilient Villa defense. The visitors had their own moments on the counter-attack, with birthday boy Ollie Watkins coming close to scoring, but the score remained level at the break.
The second half saw a dramatic shift in momentum as Arsenal scored twice in quick succession. The breakthrough came in the 48th minute when Gabriel Magalhaes, returning from his own injury layoff, rose highest to head home a corner from Bukayo Saka. Only five minutes later, the lead was doubled by Martin Zubimendi. The Spanish midfielder made a surging run into the box and produced a composed finish after being played through by a subtle pass from captain Martin Odegaard.
As Aston Villa pushed forward to find a way back into the game, Arsenal exploited the space left behind. In the 69th minute, Leandro Trossard effectively put the game out of reach with a powerful strike into the bottom corner. Mikel Arteta then turned to his bench, bringing on Gabriel Jesus, who made an immediate impact by curling a brilliant effort into the top corner in the 78th minute to make it 4-0.
Aston Villa managed to score a late consolation goal in stoppage time. After a shot from Donyell Malen struck the post, Ollie Watkins was on hand to tap in the rebound, denying Arsenal a clean sheet. Despite the late goal, the night belonged to the Gunners, who showed the clinical edge and defensive stability required of title favorites.
This result leaves Arsenal in a strong position heading into the new year, while Aston Villa remains in the top three but now sits six points behind the leaders. The Gunners will look to maintain this high level of performance as they prepare for their first match of 2026 against Bournemouth.
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