Arsenal closed out 2025 in emphatic fashion, thrashing third-placed Aston Villa 4-1 on Tuesday to go five points clear at the top of the Premier League, at the Emirates Stadium in London, England.
Goals by Gabriel Magalhaes and Martin Zubimendi early in the second half gave Arsenal control of a game that had looked fraught with danger.
Gabriel bundled in the opener from a corner in the 48th minute, before captain Martin Odegaard slid a pass through for Zubimendi to score four minutes later.
Villa were ripped apart and the Gunners weren’t stopping there. The in-form Leandro Trossard swept in Arsenal’s third after an Odegaard cross was not cleared to make the scores 3-0.
Arsenal then secured the points when Gabriel Jesus came off the bench to add the fourth in style, curling the ball beautifully past goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
The New Year party was in full swing in at the Emirates Stadium as Arsenal blew Aston Villa away.
Villa striker Ollie Watkins then grabbed a consolation goal in stoppage time as the match finished 4-1.
“I think it was amazing,” Jesus said in an interview after the match. “It’s always hard to play against them.”
“The mentality of the team is really, really growing and each game is growing even more and I think we are winning today because of the mentality.”
Arsenal’s statement win moved them five points clear of second-placed Manchester City, who can close the gap when they go to Sunderland on Thursday.
Villa stayed in third place, six points adrift of Arsenal after their first defeat for nearly two months.
Tuesday’s Premier League results
Burnley 1-3 Newcastle
Chelsea 2-2 Bournemouth
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Everton
West Ham 2-2 Brighton
Arsenal 4-1 Aston Villa
Manchester United 1-1 Wolves.