Arsenal 4-1 Aston Villa

Arsenal moved five points clear at the top of the Premier League table by dismantling title-race rivals Aston Villa 4-1 at Emirates Stadium.

Villa showed enough in the first half to suggest they could achieve a club-record 12th straight win in all competitions, but the Gunners turned on the style to race four goals ahead with a scintillating second-half performance.

In his first start since early November, Gabriel Magalhaes profited from some poor goalkeeping from Emiliano Martinez to open the scoring three minutes into the second half.

Martin Zubimendi then tucked home in the 52nd minute, before Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Jesus both added sublime curling finishes.

Ollie Watkins scored a stoppage-time consolation goal for Villa, who are now six points adrift of Arsenal. Second-placed Manchester City could move back to within two points of the leaders when they visit Sunderland on New Year's Day.

How the match unfolded

Viktor Gyokeres sent an early header over for the hosts, but the first major chance went Villa's way after the Swede surrendered possession, with Watkins sweeping wide.

Villa continued to threaten with dynamic counter-attacks, while at the other end, Gyokeres sent another header against the stanchion behind the goal.

Arsenal came out of the interval a team transformed, though, and the first of two quickfire goals came when Gabriel outmuscled Martinez to nod Bukayo Saka's corner home.

Zubimendi then found the bottom-right corner with the outside of his boot after being released by Martin Odegaard, leaving the visitors shellshocked.

More intense pressing from the front resulted in the third goal in the 69th minute, with Trossard's outstanding first-time finish surviving a VAR check for two possible offsides in the build-up.

Jesus got in on the act in the 78th minute, finding the bottom-right corner 55 seconds after coming off the bench, but Villa did at least get on the scoresheet as Watkins tapped home four minutes into stoppage time, after the striker had headed against a post and John McGinn had produced a glaring miss.

Arsenal up the ante to blow title rivals away

Injuries, particularly in defence, have been a major plotline in the story of Arsenal's season. And in the first half, it looked like the absence of Declan Rice – who took a kick to the knee while filling in at right-back in Saturday's 2-1 win over Brighton & Hove Albion – might cost the Gunners dearly.

His athleticism was missed as Villa cut through the heart of Arsenal's midfield on several occasions, though they could not find the killer pass or finish. Ezri Konsa ran to the edge of Arsenal's area to tee up Watkins' early chance, while Morgan Rogers' final ball let him down when he looked to thread Jadon Sancho in behind.

But whatever Mikel Arteta said at half-time clearly had the desired effect, as Arsenal pressed Villa into submission.

Arsenal's second and third goals combined brawn and brains, with Odegaard pouncing on Sancho's lack of awareness to recover possession before slipping in Zubimendi. Jurrien Timber – back in the side after missing the Brighton victory – then pressed high to provoke the third goal, though all the credit must go to Trossard for his classy finish.

Gabriel Jesus' goal was a fitting exclamation mark on a crushing Arsenal win, with the Brazilian netting for the first time in the Premier League since New Year's Day 2025.

Arsenal open 2026 – a year they hope will yield Premier League glory – with a trip to AFC Bournemouth on Saturday.

Title talk a bridge too far for Villa?

Back-to-back victories over Manchester United and Chelsea either side of Christmas kept Villa within three points of Arsenal, but ahead of this game, Unai Emery was still reluctant to talk up his team's title chances.

The Spaniard said on Monday that talk of a title challenge "does not make sense" for Villa. That aim did not seem too fanciful at half-time, but it was a different story by the time referee Darren England blew the final whistle.

Villa were missing two regular starters – Matty Cash and Boubacar Kamara – due to suspension, with Emery making five changes to the team that started at Stamford Bridge last time out.

But even those alterations could not knock Villa – who had won eight consecutive Premier League games – out of their stride, as their dynamic counter-attacks induced some nerves among the home fans.

However, there was a chasm between the teams in the second half, which began with an error from former Gunner Martinez. Two cheap giveaways then contributed to Arsenal building a handsome lead, with Villa showing signs of fatigue after a busy festive period.

Their second half was summed up when McGinn somehow failed to bundle in the rebound after Watkins' glancing header bounced off the far post. Watkins would later get on the scoresheet on his 30th birthday, but Emery must go back to the drawing board ahead of Saturday's home meeting with Nottingham Forest.