"Arsenal will enter 2026 with a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League as they continue their quest for the club's very own holy grail, and judging by this game of two halves against putative title rivals they may need it. A scrappy, angst-ridden opening 45 minutes was followed by a performance of complete dominance kickstarted by two goals in the space of five minutes from Gabriel Magalhaes and Martin Zubimendi at the start of the second half."
"Arsenal had fought their way to five unconvincing wins since losing the reverse fixture to the last kick of the game at Villa Park 25 days ago so needed a statement victory, and delivered emphatically. Mikel Arteta's side had missed the injured Declan Rice badly during the first half, and without some poor finishing from Ollie Watkins would have fallen behind, but capitalised on an injury sustained by Villa's midfield talisman Amadou Onana to run riot in the second half."
Arsenal will start 2026 five points clear at the top of the Premier League after a 4-1 win over Aston Villa. The match featured a scrappy first half, then total Arsenal dominance after two quick second-half goals from Gabriel Magalhaes and Martin Zubimendi. Leandro Trossard added a third and substitute Gabriel Jesus completed the scoring. Villa suffered their first defeat in 12 matches and ended up six points adrift in third. Arsenal managed absences for Declan Rice and Riccardo Calafiori, welcomed Gabriel back from a long layoff and benefited from an Onana injury that shifted the contest.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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