Arsenal finished the year five points clear at the top of the English Premier League ladder after recording an emphatic 4-1 win over Aston Villa on Wednesday morning (AEDT).
Villa entered the game off the back of an incredible 11-game winning stream but were no match for an Arsenal side that was emboldened by the return of key defender Gabriel.
The Brazilian scored the opener and played almost 80 minutes on his return from injury, and it looked like he had helped the Gunners keep their 10th clean sheet of the season before Ollie Watkins scored a late consolation goal for Villa.
After a goalless first half it was all Arsenal in the second period, with Martín Zubimendi making it 2-0 after Gabriel’s opener before Leandro Trossard and substitute Gabriel Jesus put the home side four goals up.
“I’m so happy to be back,” Gabriel said after the game. “I think today was a brilliant day for everyone, with how we worked together. Now we need to keep going.
“It’s very difficult to play against them (Villa) – they tried to delay the game, but the second half we kept going and we were amazing after the first goal.”
@stansportfc Gabriel Jesus puts the icing on the cake 🎂 ↳ Premier League. Live & On Demand with 4K on Football’s New Home, Stan Sport. Stream now. #StanSportAU #PremierLeague #Arsenal ♬ original sound – Stan Sport Football
Elsewhere on Wednesday morning, Manchester United and Chelsea both dropped points from winning positions to leave the race for the Champions League places wide open heading into the new year.
All four goals in Chelsea’s 2-2 draw with Bournemouth came in a frenetic opening half-hour, with the Cherries taking the lead through David Brooks before a Cole Palmer penalty levelled the scores after 15 minutes.
Enzo Fernandez then blasted a shot into the top corner to make it 2-1 before Justin Kluivert scored the equalizer for Bournemouth.
Wolverhampton Wanderers earned a priceless point at Old Trafford, drawing 1-1 with Manchester United as they seek to escape from what looks like almost-certain relegation.
Ruben Amorim cut a downcast figure after the game and spoke with trademark honesty after seeing his side take the lead in the 27th minute through Joshua Zirkzee, before Ladislav Krejčí equalised for Wolves just before half time.
“We struggled in all the game,” Amorim said. “We had a lack of creation but we already knew it would be a different game to Newcastle.
“We had a different energy during the game.
“Looking at the 90 minutes we had our chances but the fluidity offensively wasn’t there. There is a lack of connections at the moment.”
There was one other draw in Wednesday’s fixtures, with West Ham and Brighton playing out an entertaining 2-2 result that was punctuated by a failed Panenka penalty by Brighton striker Danny Welbeck.
In the other games, Newcastle beat Burnley 3-1 while Everton won 2-0 away at Nottingham Forest, meaning West Ham, Burnley and Wolves finish 2025 in the relegation zone.