ARSENAL 4-1 ASTON VILLA: Gabriel Magalhaes, Martin Zubimendi, Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Jesus all got on the scoresheet in a dominant win over Unai Emery's side
Martin Zubimendi
Martin Zubimendi of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team's second goal
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Arsenal produced a second-half masterclass to blow away Aston Villa 4-1 and assert their title credentials to end 2025 with a bang. The Gunners produced a dominant display without Declan Rice to leave Mikel Arteta beaming.
The game's opening 45 minutes saw both teams waste good chances before Arsenal sent a reminder of their dead-ball prowess from a corner early in the second period. Emiliano Martinez pulled Gabriel Magalhaes' shirt as the ball swung in and soon found himself flailing around the Brazilian as the ball came off the defender and into the net.
That changed the tone of the game as Arsenal then turned the screw. Martin Odegaard took on Declan Rice's role to win the ball back before turning into the creator to slot Martin Zubimendi into the box to score for the first time since September.
A clean strike from Leandro Trossard in the 69th minute put the Gunners 3-0 up following a lengthy VAR check. But coming off the bench, Gabriel Jesus may have netted the pick of the bunch with a smart finish after 78 minutes from outside te area.
The Emirates crowd was in a jubilant mood in the dying stages as Arsenal convincingly ended Villa's 11-match winning run. Ollie Watkins scrambled in a late consolation goal.
Arsenal without Rice
With news of Declan Rice's absence emerging ahead of the match, Arsenal's test was made all the more difficult. The Gunners star is dealing with a knee injury which Mikel Arteta hopes won't keep him out long.
"Declan got a big kick in his knee during the match [against Brighton], at the start of the match actually, and by the time he finished the match he had a massive swell up. The game was too early for him to consider," Arteta explained.
"I hope that when the swelling comes out he can function [and] he will be fine," he added.
Arsenal and Rice have been synonymous in recent years and the midfielder had missed just three Premier League games since signing for the club in 2023. Registering his fourth absence could hardly have come at a worse time but a midfield three of Martin Zubimendi, Mikel Merino and Martin Odegaard is nothing to be sniffed at.
Martin Odegaard
Martin Odegaard played well in the second period(Image: Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
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Rice was a miss, as Villa ensured that the midfield trio had plenty of recovery runs to make. On occasion, it was perhaps too easy for the visitors to scythe through the middle of the pitch.
The second half allowed Arsenal's midfield to show their own talents in combination, particularly for the north London side's second goal. Odegaard looks to be nearing his best once again.
Villa will regret losing Amadou Onana at the break because Arsenal might have forgotten who Rice was by the 90th minute.
Gabriel returns
With one hand the injury gods took away but with the other they provided some positive news. Gabriel Magalhaes made his return to reform the division's best partnership.
Gabriel and William Saliba started together at centre-back in the Premier League for the first time since November 8. Coming into the game, Arsenal had not conceded a goal this season when both had played together for 90 minutes.
Gabriel
Gabriel celebrates his goal(Image: Julian Finney/Getty Images)
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That had only occurred on five occasions, however. After a stellar effort, Gabriel made way after 77 minutes, the only way the record wasn't extended.
As much as his defensive talents are required, his talent in front of goal is also a weapon from Arsenal's set-pieces, and he wasted little time sending that reminder.
Forward frustrations
Both Ollie Watkins and Viktor Gyokeres will have come into the game feeling they had something to prove. Watkins returned to the starting XI after running Chelsea ragged, while the Swedish forward has failed to convince since joining.
The opening 45 minutes helped neither. Watkins could not arrange his feet correctly to take a good chance, while Gyokeres wasted two chances of his own.
Ollie Watkins
Ollie Watkins missed a good chance(Image: Neville Williams/Aston Villa FC via Getty Images)
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The latter showed flashes of good movement but too often it appears Arsenal attempt to utilise him away from his strengths or don't find him at all. Too often, they want to put the ball into him, rather than into dangerous areas for him to finish.
With Gabriel Jesus finding the net, another bit of pressure will be placed upon Gyokeres' shoulders.
Watkins eventually found the net but only after the game was over.
Are Aston Villa in the title race?
For all of Unai Emery's protests, it was difficult to ignore the prospect coming into the clash. Defeat for Aston Villa would open up a gap, but any other result would see the Midlands club firmly placed in the conversation.
For large stretches, they looked every bit Arsenal's match, and given the Gunners have been the division's frontrunners, it perhaps says a lot. But Arsenal found quality when they needed it and opened up a six-point gap to their rivals.
Certainly, the longer the game went on, the less convincing the argument for Villa became.
Unai Emery and Arsenal
The former Gunners' boss has lost just one of his last six matches against Arsenal and claimed three victories in that time. Emery has truly looked to prove his coaching talent against the team that sacked him in 2019.
The Spaniard has cost Arsenal the title before and after recording a win earlier this month, and could yet do so again. An additional blow was not to come on Tuesday, however.
Emery looked to have the answers to rattle his former employers again after the opening half. This time, Arsenal found answers that could prove important beyond facing Villa but handed Emery his first Emirates defeat since returning.
Big Arsenal question
Despite Arsenal's talents and title challenges, they have yet to conclusively prove they can beat the best to be the best. Coming into the clash, they had failed to register a win against any of the Premier League's top five.
It has been beating Manchester City that they have often been tasked with in recent seasons, but they have failed against teams below their fiercest rivals so far this season. That changed against Villa and will give Arsenal the perfect boost heading into the second half of the season.
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