Premier League leaders Arsenal loved ‘an attractive night’ as they thrashed in-form Aston Villa 4-1 to go 5 factors clear on the high of the desk.
Mikel Arteta’s facet had been up towards it at occasions within the first 45 minutes however produced an exciting second-half show to rout Villa and underline their title credentials.
Objectives from Gabriel, Martin Zubimendi, Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Jesus despatched Arsena to an enormous win to go away Arteta purring heading into 2026.
He stated: “It’s a lovely night. That was a really powerful match, as we knew it could be, as a result of they’re a high opponent to play towards.
“The primary 10 minutes had been a bit shaky and we needed to modify issues, however credit score to them as a result of they managed to interrupt our press twice and had been in a position to run which they’re very harmful at.
“After that, we grabbed the sport and we had been creating the probabilities. The best way we began the second half was superb, we actually turned issues up and had been environment friendly in the whole lot that we did. We needed to be actually meticulous and perceive the timing at which we had been doing the whole lot. It’s an enormous credit score to my gamers as a result of towards this staff it isn’t simple.
“We’ve got created a whole lot of possibilities in the previous couple of weeks however we noticed the distinction immediately. We wanted scrappy targets to win different video games however immediately the standard of our ending was high and made the distinction.”
Manchester Metropolis, in second place, face Sunderland away on New Year’s Day.
“It received troublesome as a result of they’re such staff,” stated Villa ahead Morgan Rogers.
“They’re the place they’re within the league for a purpose. They’re relentless and so they simply hold going. I believed we had been actually good within the first half, we had been actually happy with how we performed. On one other day we’d’ve created another clear-cut likelihood to perhaps go in entrance, however they had been actually strong and actually good. Within the second half, they only stored the stress on and it’s actually powerful to come back to a spot like this. We knew we must journey our luck however they had been simply too medical – generally that occurs.
“Nothing actually modified on both facet within the second half, however when you get that opening aim then the momentum comes with it. Whenever you’re 1-0 up then you definately get extra confidence and play extra freely, that’s undoubtedly what occurred for them. When the targets began coming thick and quick, you knew it was accomplished.
“It’s nothing dangerous to lose 4-1 to one of the best staff within the league in the intervening time. We simply should mud ourselves down and be happy with the profitable run we’ve been on.”
