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Arsenal extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to five points after a masterful second half that saw them beat Aston Villa and end their winning run in eight league matches.
Unai Emery’s dangerous visitors could have moved level on points with the Gunners with another famous victory on the road and were arguably the brighter side in the opening 45 minutes.
But Mikel Arteta’s side showed why they are at the top of the tree with a huge second half as goals from Gabriel, Martin Zubimendi, Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Jesus propelled them into 2026 in pole position.
The Gunners were without key midfielder Declan Rice and missed him from the start. Morgane Rogers and Amadou Onana roamed the space he would normally occupy to test the Gunners.
The chances were limited, however, and a much more enterprising home team took control after the break.
Defender Gabriel bundled in at a corner after Emi Martinez failed to dominate his six-yard box, and with the Emirates still on the move, Zubimendi received a fine pass from captain Martin Odegaard to stab home.
Trossard swept in from the edge of the box and replaced Jesus in leather with his first real touch to add some Brazilian shine to the scoreline. This was Jesus’ first goal since January.
With Kai Havertz back on the bench after his long absence, Arsenal once again have some real firepower in their ranks.
And they have quality in goal too, with David Raya somehow preventing John McGinn’s point-blank strike in injury time. Villa finally scored a goal moments later when Ollie Watkins raced in from a yard out after Donyell Malen had hit the post.
Manchester City, second, faces Sunderland away on New Year’s Day.
