Arsenal strengthened their Premier League title push with a commanding 4–1 victory over Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium, finishing the year five points clear at the summit.
The breakthrough came three minutes after the restart when Gabriel Magalhães, making his first league start since returning from injury, bundled the ball home from a corner in the 48th minute. Aston Villa protested for a foul on goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, but the goal was allowed to stand.
Arsenal doubled their advantage soon after as captain Martin Ødegaard won possession in midfield and slipped a perfectly weighted pass through for Martin Zubimendi, who calmly poked past Martínez to cap a sweeping move.
Leandro Trossard made it three with a low drive from the edge of the box, following a lengthy VAR check for offside, before substitute Gabriel Jesus put the result beyond doubt with a curling finish late on.
Ollie Watkins grabbed a consolation for Villa in stoppage time, tapping in from close range, but it did little to alter the outcome on a night dominated by the Gunners.
Villa arrived in north London on an 11-match winning run including a 2–1 victory over Arsenal earlier this month and started brightly, with Watkins going close early on. However, Unai Emery’s side, missing suspended duo Matty Cash and Boubacar Kamara, were eventually overrun despite attempts to slow the tempo and frustrate the hosts.
The victory capped an impressive year for Mikel Arteta’s men, who have lost just twice in the league this season and now sit five points clear ahead of second-placed Manchester City’s trip to Sunderland on New Year’s Day.
