Arsenal gave Aston Villa a good old-fashioned (Morgan) Rogering at the Emirates to reestablish a five-point gap on Manchester City at the top of the Premier League.
After a tight, end-to-end first half ended goalless, the Gunners took a stranglehold on proceedings after the break, scoring twice in quick succession through Gabriel Magalhaes and Martin Zubimendi. With the game stretched, Leandro Trossard and substitute Gabriel Jesus made sure of the points with clinical finishes, before Ollie Watkins grabbed a stoppage-time consolation.
Having suffered the ignominy of a last-gasp defeat at Villa Park earlier in the month, this was payback – and then some.
Here’s what the managers, players, pundits and stattos made of the action…
Mikel Arteta on his side’s performance…
It was amazing. We knew we played against a team that won 11 games in a row in a great emotional state. They are a really fabulous team. They keep you on the edge in a reaction. And in the first half in the first 10 minutes we mistimed a few things and they opened us up and they are really dangerous there. After we had some more control we came up in the second half and I thought we were outstanding.
Source: BBC Match of the Day
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Unai Emery on a comprehensive defeat…
I am so so happy with the players. We must analyse this match, but overall we have got to Matchweek 19 with the points we have. Today we did very good in the first half and were getting momentum. But in the second half the first goal changes everything. Football is now. Everything we did was fantastic but we have to analyse today and keep going.
Source: premierleague.com
Morgan Rogers on losing to Arsenal…
They are a good team and they are where they are in the league for a good reason. They are relentless. I thought we were really good in the first half and I’m proud of the way we played. On another day, we might have created that clear cut chance to go in front. Second half, they piled on the pressure and they were clinical. We are in a great place right now. It isn’t bad to lose 4-1 to the best team in the league. We have to dust ourselves down, but we have to be proud of the run we’ve been on. We have more games coming up in which we can go again and get back to where we want to be.
Source: premierleague.com
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Arsenal goal scorer Martin Zubimendi’s assessment…
I think we needed this game. We were playing at home, we wanted to finish the year at the top of the table and against this great team, tactically they are almost perfect, so we’re very happy with the performance. In the first half we were struggling a little bit with the counter-attacks. At half-time, we adjusted some movements and in the second half, when we scored the first and the second, and then I think the game was so open and we managed to score four. I think we noticed the willingness of the crowd, always pushing, always wanting more. They pushed us to score one, two, three and four, so we’re very happy for us and for them as well.
Source: Arsenal.com
Gabriel Magalhaes on a dramatic return from injury…
It has been some difficult days for me. I always want to help the team. I’m so happy to be back. Today was a brilliant day for everyone, how we worked together. Now we need to keep going.
Source: premierleague.com
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Arteta on a massive performance from Big Gabi…
That’s again down to preparation and mentality. He’s been out for six weeks, that’s a lot at this level. Then to play against a team like this, with open spaces, with one of the best strikers in the league, constantly pinning you and dragging you into the wrong areas is very difficult to do, and on top of that, he scored the goal.
Source: Arsenal.com
Jesus on Big Gabi…
I said after the last game, the moment he stepped on the pitch, you could see the difference in our backline. This guy loves to defend in the same way I love to attack. He loves to score goals as well!
Source: premierleague.com
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Gabriel Jesus on his celebration…
It is very clear why I have this t-shirt [I belong to Jesus]. He saved my life from the beginning and through the tough moments in my life I realise we are nothing without Jesus. I want to glorify his name because he makes a big difference in the tough moments. Now in the shiny moment, I want to glorify him. At the beginning of the year I had my confidence back and then for some reason the Lord stopped me and taught what I could do better. It is amazing how Jesus works in our lives. I trust in the process.
Source: premierleague.com
Jamie Carragher on Jesus taking over from Gyokeres…
I’m a huge fan of Jesus, always have been. He’s probably not an amazing finisher, but he’s a fantastic footballer. And the one thing I would say, maybe the slight negative on the night for Arsenal, Viktor Gyokeres should not be starting for Arsenal when they’ve got players like this. I think in a couple of games’ time, when Jesus is maybe a little bit more up to speed, he’s a better player than Viktor Gyokeres. That’s a fact. He’s been questioned before – is he good enough for Arsenal to go on and win the league? But right now, he’s better than the guy they brought in, who they thought was going to win them the league. Gyokeres is really game, he has a go, and in some ways, I really admire him – the way he took that penalty at Everton, he’s got that sort of mindset of always looking really intense in the game. But I just think he lacks a little bit of finesse and quality when you think of what they’ve got on the bench.
Source: Sky Sports
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Arteta on whether the missing Declan Rice could return for the weekend…
I think so, if that swelling comes down in the next few days he will be in a better place. But the good thing is without a lot of players still the team is able to perform in that way and win the game.
Source: BBC Match of the Day
Arteta on an exceptional performance from captain Martin Odegaard…
He needed some consistency and some games, he had two times the shoulder injury, then the knee injury – a big knee injury – and that takes a bit of time. Now you can see he’s flowing, that his energy level is back to where it is, that he’s affecting the game in a great way, I think we was really, really good today.
Source: Post-game press conference
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Ian Wright on Arsenal’s win…
I would have been happy with a 1-0 home win but for them to play that well, against an emerging Villa side, is really good to see. They played some really good stuff – after the first goal they took Villa apart.
Source: premierleague.com
Arteta on what 2026 might hold…
It’s been a great 2025 in the personal level, professional level. The way these guys and the club and the staff made me enjoy my work every single day. And 2026, we know what we want. We’re going to have to work really hard for it every single day, but I think we’re in the right trajectory.
Source: Sky Sports
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Arteta on Emery not shaking his hand at full-time…
It’s not an issue. Sometimes we are in this sort of moment, so it’s not an issue for me.
Source: Sky Sports
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Arteta on the wins like this generating belief…
It’s belief, it’s energy as well because they put in so much, we’re playing every two and a half days, the schedule is very, very demanding, we have some very tough matches and injuries, but the players are so willing, so winning helps all that. All the sacrifices, commitment that you put in gets reflected in results and great performances and that’s so satisfying but we know there’s still so much to play for, it’s a great way to end the year, that’s for sure, and tomorrow have a good night with our families. But then the next day we are in and we have to go to Bournemouth and we know what that means.
Source: Post-game press conference
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The Arsenal home support to Emi Martinez…
“You’re just a sh*t David Raya, you’re just a sh*t David Raya.”
Source: The North Bank