Premier League leaders Arsenal hammered Aston Villa 4-1 to secure a statement win on Tuesday as they closed out 2025 in style.
WATCH — Full match replay
After a tight first half which saw Viktor Gyokeres and Ollie Watkins both go close on multiple occasions, Arsenal broke through via Gabriel at the start of the second half. The returning center back scored from, you guessed it, a corner. And that opened the floodgates.
MORE — Declan Rice misses huge games vs Villa
Martin Zubimendi prodded home soon after, then Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Jesus added extra gloss to the scoreline thanks to their classy finishes. Ollie Watkins tapped home a consolation goal in stoppage time to at least get Villa on the board.
MORE — Gabriel’s return cements spot as Arsenal’s spiritual leader
Arsenal move on to 45 points, five clear of Manchester City who play on Thursday. Villa remain on 39 points as their incredible 11-game winning run in all competitions came to an end.
Arsenal’s spiritual leader Gabriel leads the charge
The first half was tight and even but Arsenal’s display in the second half underlined what they are capable of. Despite missing Declan Rice and several other key players through injury, Arsenal’s squad depth is sensational and Mikel Arteta’s side could have won by six or seven. Yes, Villa had key players missing through injury and suspension and ran out of steam in the second half. But it was also because Arsenal were back to their best and it coincided with their spiritual leader, Gabriel, returning to the starting lineup for the first time in almost two months. It was poignant that Gabriel’s goal got them going and broke Villa’s resistance. It was the signal for Arsenal to go after Villa as they smelt blood in the water and swarmed all over Villa. In recent weeks we’ve seen Arsenal labor to victory and drop points but against a really strong, confident Villa side this was a massive statement win. Bigger challenges will arrive between now and May as they chase the title but halfway through the season they are top of the table and have huge players returning from injury. Arteta even had the luxury of leaving Eberechi Eze, Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz on the bench. With injuries, that is how strong this Arsenal squad is.
What’s next?
Arsenal head to Bournemouth on Saturday, January 3. Villa host Nottingham Forest on the same day.
Arsenal vs Aston Villa score: 4-1
Gabriel 48', Zubimendi 53', Trossard 69', Jesus 78'; Watkins 90+4'
Arsenal vs Aston Villa live updates! — By Joe Prince-Wright
Watkins taps home
Malen dribbles towards goal and hits the post. The ball rebounds to Watkins and he taps home from close range. 4-1.
McGinn somehow denied by Raya!
Watkins’ header hits the post and comes straight back out to McGinn. He looks certain to score but Raya somehow saves. Wow. Save of the season contender.
Saka smashes over
Arsenal are swarming all over Villa now. Bukayo Saka is clean through but his shot is smashed just over the bar.
Gabriel Jesus scores again, moments after coming on!
Straight on the pitch and Gabriel Jesus curls home a stunner. What a moment for him after such a long time out injured. Trossard races clear down the left and finds Jesus who does the rest.
Gabriel celebrates a block like a goal!
Morgan Rogers twists and turns and gets a shot on goal which is blocked by Gabriel’s head. He celebrates that block like he scored a goal. Sensational stuff as Arsenal try and secure a 10th Premier League clean sheet this season.
Trossard curls home a stunner, and VAR has a long look before confirming!
Leandro Trossard smashes home a beauty but VAR checks for offside on Saka but he is okay. VAR then also checks for a possible offside on Piero Hincapie but he’s also just on. The goal is given after a lengthy check. 3-0!
Martinez denies Odegaard
The ball drops to Odegaard on the edge of the box and he takes his time but the ball is stuck under his feet a little. That gives Martinez the change to just get a touch on his low effort and tip it around the post. Arsenal have cranked things up several gears in this second half. They should be up by three or four.
Timber flicks over
Another superb set piece delivery from Saka causes chaos and the ball drops down to Timber. But he lashes it over the bar from close range.
Zubimendi finishes to make it 2-0!
The Martin’s combine! Odegaard wins the ball back, runs towards goal and slots through the onrushing Zubimendi. He is clean through and prods it past Martinez. What a brilliant start to the second half for Arsenal.
Gabriel heads home!
Arsenal have now scored 11 goals from corners in the Premier League this season, more than any other team, and on his return to the team Gabriel heads home Bukayo Saka’s corner. Emiliano Martinez was flapping. VAR is having a look for a possible foul on Martinez. But the goal stands. That is huge.
McGinn on for Onana at half time
After Onana went down in the first half, this was a likely sub. McGinn would have come on by the 60-minute mark anyway, so this won’t alter Villa’s game plan that much. Both teams have really strong benches. Who will use it better?
Half time: Arsenal 0-0 Aston Villa
Very even, gripping first half at the Emirates. Gyokeres and Watkins have both had big chances. Just one shot on target though. Nobody has control of the game. Villa look dangerous on the counter when they play long. This is set up perfectly for a huge second half.
Offside denies Villa
Wow. Another great long ball forward finds Jadon Sancho and he crosses for Watkins. He looks certain to score but Saliba gets a vital touch on it just before the Villa striker is going to finish. But the offside flag was up. Sancho was just off.
Gyokeres heads just wide!
A cross from the left sees Gyokeres throw himself at it and his diving header is inches away from flying in.
Very open game
Villa are pinging the ball long early and they find Rogers but Arsenal clear. Onana went down with an injury as there was a break in the game. Martinez then pings another long ball to Sancho on the break. Villa’s plan is working well, but Arsenal are pushing to go ahead before the break.
Watkins should score!
Konsa steps in and gets the ball from Gyokeres easily. Watkins is then played in by Konsa but he shanks his shot and it goes wide. Villa should be ahead. Arsenal caught twice on the counter.
Onana runs clear and goes down, but no contact
Amadou Onana does really well to charge into the Arsenal box. He cuts inside Saliba and goes down but there was no contact. Onana got on with it and Villa win a corner, which Arsenal clear.
Gyokeres heads over
A decent chance for Arsenal as Hincapie’s cross from the left is swung in and Viktor Gyokeres beats Lucas Digne to the ball but heads just over. He has to hit the target there.
Arsenal lineup
Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Odegaard, Zubimendi, Merino; Saka, Gyokeres, Trossard
Aston Villa lineup
Martinez; Bogarde, Konsa, Lindelof, Digne; Onana, Tielemans; Sancho, Buendia, Rogers; Watkins
Arsenal team news, focus
QUESTIONABLE: Max Dowman (ankle), Ben White (hamstring) Cristhian Mosquera (ankle - MORE), Kai Havertz (knee - MORE) | QUESTIONABLE: Jurrien Timber (undisclosed), Riccardo Calafiori (undisclosed), Declan Rice (knee)
Aston Villa team news, focus
OUT: Boubacar Kamara (suspension), Matty Cash (suspension), Evann Guessand (international duty - AFCON), Pau Torres (calf), Tyrone Mings (hamstring), Ross Barkley (unspecified)
Arsenal vs Aston Villa preview
Arsenal (42 points) have been top of the table for the majority of the season thus far but Aston Villa (39 points) inserted themselves into the conversation back on Dec. 6, when they beat the Gunners 2-1 at Villa Park by way of Emiliano Buendia’s 94th-minute winner. Unai Emery’s side has won 12 of their last 13 games and after winning none of their first five and not scoring their first PL goal until the 427th minute of their season. Since they started scoring, only Manchester City (2nd place - 40 points) have scored more goals than Villa (with a mind-boggling record of 35 in 14 games), as Morgan Rogers (7 goals, 3 assists) Ollie Watkins (5 and 1) lead the way once again.
The loss to Aston Villa earlier this month ended Arsenal’s 11-game unbeaten run, but it was the disappointing draws against Sunderland and Chelsea that left the door open for Emery, their former manager. Whether it’s a matter of creating chances or converting them — and it’s been each at various times this season — the Gunners are the ones struggling to score goals now, with Own Goal leading the way of late (three of their last five goals via own goal, plus one more from the penalty spot), even if it was enough to scrape one-goal wins over Wolves, Everton and Brighton.
Arsenal vs Aston Villa prediction
Kamara’s absence is a big, big loss for Villa in this one. Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice and the rest of the Arsenal midfield should control the game and find it easier to get the ball into the final third without one of the PL’s best ball-winners standing in their way. Arsenal 2-1 Aston Villa.
How to watch Arsenal vs Aston Villa live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 3:15 pm ET, Tuesday (December 30)
Venue: Emirates Stadium
TV Channel: NBCSN
Streaming: Stream live on Peacock
