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Arsenal’s Gabriel Jesus celebrates after scoring his side’s fourth goal - AP/Alastair Grant
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This was one of the big-ticket wins for Arsenal in this latest title pursuit, not just for the size of it but for the way in which Mikel Arteta’s team turned an evening of potential jeopardy into a mid-winter saunter – ending with goals for substitutes, and David Raya wonder saves.
What a performance it was for an Arsenal team without Declan Rice, and facing a reckoning against a former manager who has proved a thorn in their side. Unai Emery’s 11-game winning run with Aston Villa was demolished on this evening, when even the shrewdness and intensity of the man who once managed Arsenal was helpless. Villa matched Arsenal, after a fashion, until half-time – and then they found themselves blitzed out of the game.
The goals for Gabriel Magalhaes and then Martin Zubimendi in a seven-goal period from the restart decided the game. The former would go off later with an injury which will again by a worry, but not on this night for a jubilant home stadium. Arteta’s team could well have shepherded it home with two goals, but they plundered two more, from Leandro Trossard – their best attacker – and then Gabriel Jesus.
The Brazilian scored with what was his first involvement as a 77th minute substitute for Viktor Gyokeres, who had another one of his nights of toil. There was Jesus’ first goal in 364 days and although there would be one to come for Villa too, in the fourth minute of time added on from Ollie Watkins, that was all that broke the spell for the home fans. Before then Raya had made an astonishing save, long past the point when any of those heroics were necessary.
How had Arsenal done it? Their intensity after half-time, when the team found another gear, was too much for Villa who were without key position players Boubacar Kamara and Matty Cash, and did not have John McGinn in the starting line-up. He would replace Amadou Onana at half-time, and the Belgian, who must have been injured, seemed like another whom Villa could scarcely afford to be without.
Amid this, Arsenal brought the full power of their squad to bear on the away team. Martin Odegaard was excellent in that crucial period after half-time, creating that critical goal for Zubimendi. Of course, there is much pressure on this team and this club at this point in their history, more than two decades from the last Premier League title – but on this occasion it was hard to detect.
Full report to follow...
11:01pm
Unai Emery made a sharp exit and did not shake Mikel Arteta’s hand at the final whistle
But Mikel Arteta says all is fine between them, “Not an issue… no problem at all”.
11:00pm
A word from Mikel Arteta
10:36pm
Gabriel Jesus speaks to Sky Sports
10:30pm
Jamie Carragher on the importance of Arsenal’s victory
10:19pm
How that affects the top four
10:14pm
Full time: Arsenal 4 Aston Villa 1
Arsenal go five points clear after a dominant second-half performance in which they hit Aston Villa like a swarm, Odegaard and Zubimendi to the fore. Should be hugely significant in the title race at least in quelling fans’ nerves.
10:12pm
90+6 min: Arsenal 4 Aston Villa 1
Penalty check for Lindelof’s block, looking at whether Zubimendi’s effort struck his arm. It did but it came from too close for the centre-half to get out of the way.
10:08pm
GOAL!
Arsenal 4 Villa 1 (Watkins) Malen drives into the box from the left, beats Saliba and sprints to the byline to try to squeeze a shot in at the near post. Instead it strikes the near post and screws towards the centre of goal where Watkins is Johnny on the Spot to convert from half a yard.
10:08pm
90+2 min: Arsenal 4 Aston Villa 0
Extraordinary! Watkins misses a sitter with a header from the middle of the box, completely unmarked. He flashes it on to the post and McGinn pounces on to the rebound and thinks he has scored from a yard but Raya pulls off a superbly agile save and Martinez is consequently informed that he is “just a s--- David Raya”.
10:05pm
90 min: Arsenal 4 Aston Villa 0
But there will be eight minutes of stoppage time for Villa to endure as well. Of their five shots, none have been on target. Watkins’ early miss could have changed the narrative.
10:04pm
88 min: Arsenal 4 Aston Villa 0
Villa are just going through the motions, understandably waiting for the whistle to end the agony. It’s only their second defeat in 14, of which they have won the other 12. A terrible day but a great winter so far.
10:02pm
86 min: Arsenal 4 Aston Villa 0
The Gabriel Jesus goal was actually his second touch, the first was a cushion to set up the shot. And it came 55 seconds after he crossed the white line.
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10:00pm
84 min: Arsenal 4 Aston Villa 0
Arsenal fans are enjoying a winter fiesta with olés for each pass as they hog possession.
09:59pm
82 min: Arsenal 4 Aston Villa 0
Saka fires over from inside the box on the right as Arsenal tear through a dejected Villa midfield again. Multiple subs now:
Jimoh → Rogers
Hemmings → Tielemans
White → Timber
Madueke → Saka
09:52pm
GOAL!
Arsenal 4 Aston Villa 0 (Gabriel Jesus) Scores with his first touch. Norgaard robs Garcia and barrels down the left before releasing the ball to Trossard who accelerates away from the substitute and squares it across the 18-yard line. Jesus gets it out from under his feet and then wraps his right instep around an unstoppable shot that he bends into the bottom right corner.
09:52pm
76 min: Arsenal 3 Aston Villa 0
Lewis-Skelly → Gabriel
Gabriel Jesus → Gyokeres.
09:50pm
74 min: Arsenal 3 Aston Villa 0
Arsenal have been a different side since the break, as have Villa for whom McGinn has not been able to push Odegaard back as Onana did.
Norgaard → Merino.
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09:46pm
GOAL!
Arsenal 3 Villa 0 (Trossard) It took more than two minutes to check whether Saka and Hincapie were offside in the build-up, Hincapie when he played Odegaard down the left wing to send over a cross and Saka when he headed that cross to the 18-yard line wheich was shuffled inside to Trossard to hammer past Martinez.
09:44pm
Goal!?
VAR check for offside threatens Trossard’s attempt from standing.
09:42pm
68 min: Arsenal 2 Aston Villa 0
Odegaard glides 40 yards from right to centre and, when he approaches the box, decides not to shoot but rolls it instead to his left for Hincapie in space but the left-back slips before he can pull the trigger.
09:41pm
66 min: Arsenal 2 Aston Villa 0
Martinez dives low to his right to tip Odegaard’s left-foot shot from the right of the D past the post and behind for a corner. Arsenal send the corner deep where Saliba heads it back across and Villa hack it away in something of a panic.
09:39pm
64 min: Arsenal 2 Aston Villa 0
Gabriel dives very low to head out Garcia’s cross from the right and is caught by Tielemans’ boot as he tried to hook in a volley. Not in the face, though, across the shoulder.
09:37pm
62 min: Arsenal 2 Aston Villa 0
Villa are caught dozing from a throw-in which they felt should have been awarded to them. Arsenal pick out Odegaard who spins to drive a shot over the bar with his left foot from the right of the penalty area.
09:35pm
60 min: Arsenal 2 Aston Villa 0
Timber hooks a bouncing ball over the bar from a couple of yards after a corner on the left.
Two Villa substitutions:
Malen → Sancho
Garcia → Buendia.
09:34pm
58 min: Arsenal 2 Aston Villa 0
Arsenal head McGinn’s inswinging free-kick away but then Merino escapes a second yellow for hauling down Rogers by the arm. That should have been a sending off. How did he get away with that? Villa cannot believe the referee let it go.
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09:31pm
56 min: Arsenal 2 Aston Villa 0
What a difference a break makes. Arsenal have flown out of the traps after their half-time oranges. Villa are preparing to make at least two changes. But first a free-kick for the visitors on the right that McGinn will take.
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09:26pm
GOAL!
Arsenal 2 Villa 0 (Zubimendi) Great work from Odegaard to blindside Sancho and intercept a pass bound for him. He advances towards the box and then slips a pass down the middle of the D and Zubimendi ran on to the perfectly weighted ball to slot a shot into the right corner.
09:22pm
GOAL!
Arsenal 1 Villa 0 (Gabriel) Howler from Martinez who tried to leap over Gabriel and catch the ball instead of punching it, drops it on to Gabriel’s thigh and it rebounds over the line from a couple of inches. May have been an own goal but Gabriel claimed it.
09:21pm
47 min: Arsenal 0 Aston Villa 0
Arsenal corner, their first, as Timber goes on a run upfield and beyond Saka, also for virtually the first time. Saka will take in the absence of Declan Platini.
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The ball was in play for only 24 minutes of the 48 minutes played in the first half.
09:20pm
46 min: Arsenal 0 Aston Villa 0
Half-time change:
McGinn → Onana.
He also takes the captain’s armband.
09:07pm
No library
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09:05pm
Half-time: Arsenal 0 Aston Villa 0
Gyokeres has had two presentable headed chances that he could not take but Arsenal in general have been bogged down, funnelling too much down the left and giving Saka very little opportunity to show his class on the right. Villa have been everything but lethal on the break with superb approach play but botched finishing.
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Martinez gets ahead of Gyokeres - AP/Alastair Grant
09:03pm
45+2 min: Arsenal 0 Aston Villa 0
Merino and Rogers go into the book, Rogers for delaying the taking of a free-kick, Merino for one tactical foul too many. One minute to go.
09:02pm
45 min: Arsenal 0 Aston Villa 0
Saliba slides in to turn Sancho’s cross behind as it seemed to be arrowing beyond him and to Watkins for a tap in after a quick break. The linesman put his flag up but it was very tight and would have had to be checked had Watkins converted and Saliba not made such a fine interception.
09:00pm
44 min: Arsenal 0 Aston Villa 0
The referee goes over to Arteta to tell him to get back in his technical area after he strayed out one too many times. Just a word, though, no card.
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08:58pm
42 min: Arsenal 0 Aston Villa 0
Rogers dribbles out of danger in his own box, helped by the ref blowing for a foul on him when he ran out of road with a heavy touch, saying that Trossard was fouling him. If anything it was t’other way round. Mikel Arteta slaps the air in disgust.
08:56pm
40 min: Arsenal 0 Aston Villa 0
Buendia is vexed by Saliba’s knee hitting his kidneys and punches the turf in frustration. The ref doesn’t give it as a foul. Seconds later Merino topples over after fouling Onana who jumps to his feet to shove him away as he attempted to stop him taking the free-kick quickly.
08:54pm
37 min: Arsenal 0 Aston Villa 0
Another chance for Gyokeres goes begging when Trossard cuts in from the left on to his right and bends a cross towards the near post. Gyokeres times his dive sweetly to meet the centre but applies the wrong connection, employing the meat of his forehead and slapping it straight and hence wide of the near post rather than using his eyebrows to glance it into the goal, or at least on target.
08:51pm
34 min: Arsenal 0 Aston Villa 0
Some silky Gyokeres footwork cutting in from the left makes some space for him to shoot from 18 yards at an angle but his shot is blocked before it passes the penalty spot.
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Watkins battles with Gabriel - AP/Alastair Grant
08:48pm
32 min: Arsenal 0 Aston Villa 0
Rotten corner from Digne on the right, hitting it low and straight at the first Arsenal sentry.
08:47pm
31 min: Arsenal 0 Aston Villa 0
Tielemans does an outraged polka when penalised for shoving Merino over 35 yards from goal. The centre-backs and massive full-backs are stationed on the left of the box. It’s too central to be ideal and Martinez comes out to claim Odegaard’s cross. He bowls the ball out miles and Bogarde and Sancho and Rogers earn Villa a corner.
08:44pm
29 min: Arsenal 0 Aston Villa 0
Onana has been passed fit to continue but has to spend 30 seconds on the sidelines for stopping the game.
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08:43pm
27 min: Arsenal 0 Aston Villa 0
John McGinn is sent out to warm up as Onana summons the physio by sitting down clutching his lower leg. Arteta calls his players over for an impromptu technical tweak.
Looks like Onana has hurt his right calf.
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08:41pm
25 min: Arsenal 0 Aston Villa 0
Saka has his first real chance to run at Digne when found by Odegaard’s bent pass. But he quickly taps it infield, looking for a give and go with Trossard whose return is too close to Konsa.
08:38pm
23 min: Arsenal 0 Aston Villa 0
Trossard takes the ball with his back to goal on the left and heads back towards the 18-yard line, swivels infield, keeps tacking rightwards and then fires a daisycutter from the edge of the box towards the near post. Martinez dives to his right and saves comfortably.
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Arteta cuts a worried figure - AFP/BEN STANSALL
08:36pm
21 min: Arsenal 0 Aston Villa 0
Saka can’t get into the game for once.
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08:35pm
20 min: Arsenal 0 Aston Villa 0
Arsenal enjoy some possession with Odegaard picking a pass into the box but Villa have enough numbers to smother the attack.
08:34pm
18 min: Arsenal 0 Aston Villa 0
Villa are monstering Arsenal on the break, lacking only a finish. In the space of two minutes Onana goes on another gambolling run until his long legs let him down with a touch and then Watkins stutters his run in from the left, looking to bend it into the bottom right corner but his shot is too straight and heads out for a goalkick nearer the corner flag than the nets.
Arsenal fans are palpably anxious.
08:32pm
15 min: Arsenal 0 Aston Villa 0
Brilliant Tielemans pass almost puts Rogers in on goal. Picked out to perfection with a 40-yard drive. Gabriel does just enough to force Rogers to hesitate and then he misplaces his pass to Sancho, putting it too close to Hincapie who makes the block tackle.
08:30pm
13 min: Arsenal 0 Aston Villa 0
Big chance for Villa when Gyokeres’s clumsy control gives the ball to Konsa who storms forward on the counter, striding down the middle before sliding Watkins in to the left of the penalty spot after drawing Gabriel and Saliba over to him. Watkins meets it with a side-foot finish but strikes it with his heel and screws it wide.
08:28pm
11 min: Arsenal 0 Aston Villa 0
Villa corner on the right after a good run by Onana, dribbling 40 yards into the box down the inside-right. Saliba races over, runs past the ball and hangs out a leg but withdraws it before Onana can fall over it. He falls over nonetheless but the ref points to the corner flag.
08:27pm
9 min: Arsenal 0 Aston Villa 0
Tielemans is clipped on the top of the boot by Odegaard and goes over five yards inside the Villa half to earn a free-kick. Villa try to draw Arsenal to press haphazardly and Gyokeres does break the line but the diagonal, when it comes, is overhit from right to left and sails oit for an Arsenal throw-in.
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The referee tells Gabriel and Watkins to stop bickering - Reuters/David Klein
08:23pm
7 min: Arsenal 0 Aston Villa 0
Martinez, as he used to do for Arsenal, takes his time over the re-start but is given a far more critical reception than he used to do for such antics in a home shirt.
08:22pm
5 min: Arsenal 0 Aston Villa 0
Gabriel loses his rag when Watkins forces him to boot it out for a throw-in, arguing that he was hit late by Villa’s centre-forward. The ref calls them both over and wags his finger. Merino smothers the villa throw and Arsenal attack down the left with Trossard sending Hincapie to the byline. He stands up a cross and Lindelof, backpedalling, can’t get anything on it. Trossard leaps over him and loops his header over from 10 yards. Good chance.
08:20pm
4 min: Arsenal 0 Aston Villa 0
Rogers is more central and Buendia coming in from the left but withdrawing alongside Tielemans and Onana out of possession. Very tight so far. No space.
08:18pm
2 min: Arsenal 0 Aston Villa 0
Villa hold the first attack at arm’s length until Odegaard tries to find the magic pass into the box for Trossard bit cannot squeeze it through the congestion to pick out his left winger and the ball skids safely behind.
08:16pm
1 min: Arsenal 0 Aston Villa 0
Bogarde is starting at right-back and takes the ball from the kick-off, switching it over to the left. Arsenal snap into the press and Merino tackles Tielemans and wins the ball.
08:15pm
The teams are in the huddle
As Arsenal’s new anthem The Angel echoes around the stadium. Arsenal in red and white, Villa in black shirts and shorts, white socks.
08:12pm
Out come the teams
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08:07pm
Goals, goals, goals
In the 7.30pm kick-offs, which you can follow here.
07:53pm
Mikel Arteta speaks to Sky Sports
07:47pm
A brief word from Unai Emery
07:36pm
Your teams in black and whire
Arsenal Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Odegaard, Zubimendi, Merino; Saka, Gyokeres, Trossard.
Substitutes Arrizabalaga, White, Gabriel Jesus, Eze, Martinelli, Norgaard, Madueke, Havertz, Lewis-Skelly.
Aston Villa Martinez; Bogarde, Lindelof, Konsa, Digne; Onana, Tielemans; Sancho, Buendia, Rogers; Watkins.
Substitutes Bizot, Wright, McGinn, Garcia, Malen, Jimoh, Maatsen, Hemmings, Routh.
Referee Darren England (Barnsley)
07:29pm
No turning back
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07:21pm
Swings and roundabouts
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07:07pm
Rice out of matchday squad
Two changes to starting XI: Timber replaces Rice, Gabriel comes in for Lewis-Skelly and Havertz returns on the bench.
️
Gabriel partners Saliba
Timber in at right-back
Odegaard pulling the strings
Let's end the year on a high, Gunners
Presented by @deel
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) December 30, 2025
07:04pm
Villa make five changes
Out go Cash, Kamara, Maatsen, McGinn and Malen for Bogarde, Onana, Digne, Sancho and Watkins:
06:13pm
Rice a major doubt
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06:11pm
Betting on today’s match?
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06:08pm
Preview: Back to the old house
Good evening and welcome to live coverage of tonight’s Premier League match between leaders Arsenal and third-placed Aston Villa from Emirates Stadium. Mikel Arteta’s meetings against his Gunners’ predecessor, Unai Emery, have not gone too well and Emery has one win and a draw from his two returns to N7/N5 with Villa not to forget Emi Buendía’s 95th-minute winner 24 days ago at Villa Park which ended Arsenal’s unbeaten run at 11 games. Villa have won their last eight league games in succession, 12 of their last 13 and should they win tonight will go level with the home side on points.
Ollie Watkin’s winner that sealed victory over Chelsea on Saturday was not enough to convince Emery that his side are genuine title contenders. Or that’s what he would have us believe but the pomaded old fox is far too wily to admit that they are. Instead he settled for praising the teams ahead and writing off his underdog chances. “Not really. I’m not feeling it. I’m feeling that we are competing very well. We are third in the league with two teams, Manchester City and Arsenal, fantastic performances they are getting.
“We have to play 38 matches. We are today on 18. There are 20 matches to play, teams like Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United...we must compete against them and try to be more or less consistent like we are now. But even being consistent and performing like we are now, there are Arsenal and Manchester City in front of us.”
Win today and he will not be allowed to be so self-effacing.
Declan Rice has joined Arsenal’s heavy casualty list after taking a blow to the knee during the win over Brighton at the weekend. Christhian Mosquera and Max Dowman were the only players definitively ruled out by Arsenal after Saturday but Ben White, Kai Havertz, Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber were all rated as major doubts. Matty Cash and Boubacar Kamara are suspended after picking up their fifth bookings of the season at Stamford Bridge, centre-backs Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres will not be back before the FA Cup third round matches and Ross Barkley is out for even longer. Some improvisation will be required at right-back as Cash has started all 18 games to date and while Ezri Konsa has played well there for club and country, with only two fit centre-halves he will likely be required alongside Victor Lindelof.
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