Arsenal heading for easy Premier League title win after ‘declared’ win over Aston Villa, says Paul Merson

Paul Merson believes Arsenal will win the Premier League easily after blasting in-form Aston Villa with a “declared” 4-1 victory at the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners, who were without the injured Declan Rice, scored four times in a frantic second half to end Premier League title rivals Villa’s 11-game winning streak.

“It felt like more than three points, psychologically,” said Aerial sports“Jamie Carragher.

Having beaten Wolves, Everton and Brighton in their previous three matches, Arsenal were far from their best against Villa in a first half where the weight of the expectation of ending a 22-year wait for a title seemed to be weighing on them.

But they came back to life after the break with a performance that will serve as a warning to Manchester City ahead of the match against Sunderland on January 1, live on Aerial sports (kick-off at 8 p.m.).

“It was an outstanding 30 minutes from Arsenal in the second half,” Merson said. Football special. “They stifled Aston Villa and ultimately made them pretty average.

“It’s a huge result for Arsenal.

“There were a few results where they just got over the line against Wolves and Brighton. They were close games but against the most in-form team in the country, if not Europe, and Arsenal dismantled them.”

He added: “With a two-point lead from a draw against Villa and a Man City win on New Year’s Day, Pep Guardiola’s side would be top. But now they’re five points ahead and they have three more goals because the goal difference will be important given it’s so close.

“Looking at Arsenal, with the away games they’ve already played and that result against Villa, I don’t know who will stop them. They play all the big teams apart from Man City at home and playing like that it’s hard to see them getting stopped.

“I think they win the Premier League quite easily.

“It was a statement result and Man City will have watched. They will think wow after this from Arsenal.”

Carra: More than three points for Arsenal

Jamie Carragher from Sky Sports:

“It’s a huge result in many ways. The caliber of opposition, the first time Arsenal have beaten a real rival this season, scoring goals and making sure the stadium wasn’t nervous at the end.

“Arsenal needed this!

“It felt like more than three points, psychologically. The feeling on the training ground tomorrow will be completely different.

“Gabriel’s return is huge. Before I said he was the most influential player in the Premier League, and we saw that again tonight.

“It was fantastic for everyone in this stadium tonight.”

Jesus: We won because of the mentality

After a scoreless first half, the home side had the advantage three minutes into the second half when Emiliano Martinez hit Bukayo Saka’s corner and the ball rolled onto Gabriel’s thigh.

Arsenal doubled their advantage in the 52nd minute after Martin Zubimendi converted Martin Odegaard’s superb defensive pass, with Leandro Trossard scoring from long range after 69 minutes to put the game firmly out of Villa’s reach.

Gabriel Jesus then scored his first goal since New Year’s Day just moments after coming on before Ollie Watkins scored a consolation for the visitors in added time.

The impressive win was the perfect tonic for Mikel Arteta’s side against a side who handed them a 2-1 stoppage-time defeat at Villa Park just 24 days ago.

“It was incredible,” Jesus told Sky Sports.

“It’s always difficult to play against Villa. They come here at any time and try to hurt us.

“At the beginning you could see they were trying to delay the game. But we won thanks to the mentality.”

Arteta delighted with ‘prolific’ Arsenal

“I’m so happy,” Gunners boss Mikel Arteta said of his side’s emphatic display. “We play every three days and today we face an opponent who has won 11 games in a row.

“They are a great team, very difficult to play against, and we knew we were going to have periods throughout the game.

“We talked emotionally about how demanding it was going to be and we struggled in the first 10 minutes. Then we adapted, had a bit more control. We didn’t manage to score and then in the second half we clicked.

“We competed much better in everything. The timing was better and the individual goals were achieved in an extraordinary way, and we were very efficient in everything we did.

“Unlike the last matches where we had so many big situations, today we were very prolific and precise to make the difference.”

“Arsenal improve title qualification with declared victory”

Sky Sports’ Nick Wright at the Emirates Stadium:

“It looks like a decisive win for Arsenal. They have struggled to take their chances in recent games. Not so much against Aston Villa. They were absolutely ruthless in that second half.

“Everything looked positive for Villa at half-time, with the scores level and Arsenal struggling to break them down. But they couldn’t cope as the hosts went up after the break.

“Arsenal players are now applauded as they complete an appreciation round. Five points clear, their title credentials improved as Villa take a major blow.”

What’s next for Arsenal?

The Gunners travel to Bournemouth Saturday, live on Sky Sports; kick-off at 5:30 p.m.

They then end their series of festive meetings with a home match against Liverpoolalso live on Sky Sports on Thursday January 8; kick-off at 8 p.m.

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