As the dust settled over the 4-1 result on Tuesday night, the question over Arsenal had changed. Was this the match that the side and Mikel Arteta proved their title credentials as the second half of the season kicked off?
After grinding out some rather average results over the space of December against the likes of Brighton and bottom place side Wolves, the quality of the effort at the Emirates will have lifted many lingering doubts that Arsenal might once again slip to a fourth second-place finish in a row. Beating Unai Emery’s on-form Villa side made a powerful statement to the rest of the league and boosting their title credentials. That Manchester City could only draw against Sunderland on Thursday night will only add to that conviction that the Gunners' time has come.
Arsenal's Martin Zubimendi celebrates scoring their side's second goal during the Premier League match against Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium, London. Picture: John Walton/PA Wire
Arsenal's Martin Zubimendi celebrates scoring their side's second goal during the Premier League match against Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium, London. Picture: John Walton/PA Wire
Big win
Arsenal’s Villa victory is nothing to be scoffed at. The Birmingham club has a pretty good record over the North London outfit, and apart from beating them already this season at Villa Park, they had the hoodoo over the Gunners last season too, beating them at Villa and drawing with them away in London.
That Arsenal won this one, this season, is not just a two-point improvement on last season, that they did it by running in such quality goals from Gabriel, Zubimendi, Trossard, and Jesus, showed a degree of grit and excellence that was absent in previous campaigns.
The Gunners start their new year with a trip to the south coast to face Bournemouth this evening, guarding a four-point lead over Pep Guardiola’s Man City. However, the standard of their performance against a well organised and hungry Villa side must have filled Arteta and his players with a confidence that this indeed will be their year.
Arsenal's Leandro Trossard (centre right) celebrates scoring the side's third goal with Martin Odegaard during the Premier League match against Villa at the Emirates Stadium, London. Picture: John Walton/PA Wire
Arsenal's Leandro Trossard (centre right) celebrates scoring the side's third goal with Martin Odegaard during the Premier League match against Villa at the Emirates Stadium, London. Picture: John Walton/PA Wire
Still wary
However, Arsenal have been in this position before.
In 2023, the Gunners entered the start of the new year five points ahead of Man City, But the tables were turned, and Guardiola’s side were the ones lifting the trophy come May turning around a five point deficit into a five-point advantage over Arsenal.
It was a similar story in the 2002-03 season, when they finished five points behind Man United having been top at the end of December.
Indeed, of the previous six occasions Arsenal ended the year on top of the Premier League table they have gone on to win the title only once and that was way back in the 2001-02 season. So, it is understandable why so few Gunner fans will be celebrating just yet. It’s not just a fact for Arsenal. For teams that have been top of the table at the end of the calendar year, just over half have gone on to win the Premier League that season (17 out of 33 occasions).
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta celebrates after the Premier League match against Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium, London. Picture: John Walton/PA Wire
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta celebrates after the Premier League match against Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium, London. Picture: John Walton/PA Wire
Clicking
Nevertheless, Arteta will be feeling that things are starting to click at just at the right time. And there will be the added confidence drawn from having Gabriel and William Saliba start at centre back for the first time this season adding strength to an already leading airtight defence.
They may be needed soon, because after Bournemouth the Gunners face champions Liverpool in London on January 9. A win there, against the only other side to have beaten them this season, apart from Villa, may just be the defining result in a victorious season.
This week, the league put out the stats that Arsenal won the most points over the calendar year, above any other side in the Premier League. That shows, once again, the side’s undoubted quality, but it will stand for nothing if Arteta and his team don’t get their title bid finally over the line come May.