Arsenal brought the curtain down on a historic year in emphatic fashion on Tuesday, December 30, hammering title rivals Aston Villa 4–1 at a raucous Emirates Stadium to move five points clear at the top of the Premier League.
The victory not only ensured a commanding end to the year for Mikel Arteta’s side but also delivered a significant psychological blow to the chasing pack.
The opening 45 minutes were finely balanced, with the contest resembling a tactical chess match. Villa, arriving on the back of an 11-game winning streak, were disciplined and dangerous on the break, and Ollie Watkins went close to silencing the home crowd after missing a gilt-edged chance.
Arsenal, however, took complete control after the interval. On his first start since returning from injury, Gabriel Magalhães underlined his importance by breaking the deadlock, bundling home a Bukayo Saka corner after a rare error from goalkeeper Emi Martínez.
Just four minutes later, captain Martin Ødegaard produced a moment of brilliance, sliding a perfectly weighted pass through to Martin Zubimendi, who finished calmly to double the advantage.
Leandro Trossard extended the lead with a sharp first-time strike, before the Emirates erupted again as substitute Gabriel Jesus, returning from a lengthy injury layoff, curled a superb effort into the corner with one of his first touches.
Watkins grabbed a late consolation for Villa after tapping in a rebound, but it did little to dull the celebrations as Arsenal sealed a dominant win.
By ending Villa’s record-breaking run, the Gunners have firmly asserted themselves as the team to beat heading into 2026. While Arsenal will be buoyed by their depth—highlighted by Zubimendi’s commanding midfield display—Villa boss Unai Emery faces concerns over Amadou Onana, who was forced off at half-time with a hamstring injury.
