Arsenal delivered a transformative performance, thoroughly defeating Aston Villa 4-1 at the Emirates Stadium in a victory Mikel Arteta hailed as a "great way to end the year." This emphatic win saw Arsenal propel themselves five points clear at the top of the Premier League table, reigniting hope among supporters after recent weeks of perceived nervousness in their title challenge. The result also brought an abrupt halt to Aston Villa's club-record-equaling 11-game winning streak across all competitions.

The match, particularly a barnstorming second half, saw Arsenal truly "click" after a goalless and somewhat uneven first 45 minutes. Gabriel Magalhães, making his first start since November 8 following a thigh injury, opened the scoring just three minutes into the second half with a close-range header from Arsenal's first corner. His return to partner William Saliba at center-back proved pivotal, with his commanding presence keenly felt in both boxes. Arteta noted that Gabriel "sets the tone" for his side, and his crucial goal indeed tipped the contest firmly in Arsenal's favor.

Just four minutes later, Martín Zubimendi doubled Arsenal's lead, capitalizing on a perfectly weighted pass from Martin Odegaard. Odegaard, enjoying perhaps his best game of the season, demonstrated growing influence and renewed energy, having seemingly recovered from previous shoulder and knee injuries. Leandro Trossard then drilled home a third goal on 69 minutes, which survived a subsequent VAR check, further solidifying Arsenal's dominance. The scoring spree culminated with Gabriel Jesus netting his first goal since January, just seconds after coming on as a substitute for Viktor Gyökeres, with a sumptuous curling finish following his knee surgery.

Despite Arsenal's overwhelming second-half performance, Ollie Watkins managed to score a consolation goal in stoppage time for Aston Villa, following a missed opportunity by John McGinn earlier in added time. Unai Emery, Aston Villa's manager, expressed encouragement from his side's first-half showing, noting their fantastic competition, creation of chances, and strong defense, remarkably not conceding a single corner. However, the second half saw them concede rapidly, with the injury to Amadou Onana also proving to be a significant setback. Emery maintained that his team "didn't give up" even after conceding multiple goals.

A notable post-match incident involved the customary handshake between managers. Unai Emery was observed quickly rushing down the tunnel without shaking hands with Mikel Arteta. Emery adamantly rejected claims of a snub, explaining it was simply his routine to quickly move with his coaches or directly to the dressing room, and he decided to go inside as Arteta was celebrating with his staff. Arteta, for his part, downplayed the incident, stating, "No, that's OK. That's part of the game, not an issue at all." This was not the first such instance, as Emery had similarly not shaken hands after Villa's victory over Arsenal in December 2023. The victory means Arsenal conclude the calendar year 2025 five points ahead of their rivals. While Manchester City have a game in hand, Arsenal's performance against Villa, especially after a stuttering few weeks, provides significant forward momentum.

Arteta emphasized the demanding schedule his team faces, playing every two and a half days, and highlighted the players' unwavering willingness, sacrifices, and commitment, which are consistently reflected in their results and performances. He stated that "another three points is the only thing that matters" and looked ahead to a "very, very demanding" 2026. Aston Villa, now in third place and six points adrift of Arsenal, will next host Nottingham Forest, while Arsenal travel to Bournemouth, hoping Declan Rice will recover from a knee injury in time to feature. This pivotal victory undoubtedly fuels belief that Arsenal could indeed end their 22-year wait for a league title.