Mikel Arteta described Arsenal’s 4-1 win over Aston Villa as a “fantastic way to close out the year,” although he downplayed the significance of his team extending their lead to five points at the top of the Premier League.
The Gunners ended Villa’s impressive 11-game winning streak with a dominant second-half performance, leaving Arsenal ahead of Manchester City as the year comes to a close.
Manchester City, who have a game in hand, can reduce the gap to just two points if they defeat Sunderland on Thursday. However, Pep Guardiola’s squad is feeling the heat after Arsenal’s strong display against Villa.
Gabriel Magalhães opened the scoring shortly after the break with a close-range header, marking his first start since November 8. Martín Zubimendi quickly added a second for Arsenal just four minutes later.
Leandro Trossard then netted a third, and Gabriel Jesus got on the scoresheet with his first touch moments after coming on as a substitute for Viktor Gyökeres, scoring his first goal since January.
Ollie Watkins managed to grab a late consolation goal for Villa, but the match strengthened Arsenal’s hopes of ending a 22-year title drought.
“The schedule is incredibly demanding, with matches every two and a half days. We face tough challenges and injuries, but the players are showing great determination,” Arteta said.
“Winning brings everything together. The hard work and commitment translate into results and strong performances, which is immensely gratifying. However, we know there’s a lot left to achieve.”
“It’s a great way to finish the year, no doubt. Tomorrow we’ll enjoy some time with our families, then it’s back to business as we prepare for Bournemouth. It’s all about securing another three points. We understand the journey ahead. This past year has been outstanding, and we know what we want from 2026, but that will require effort. We still have a long road ahead.”
Arsenal will face Bournemouth on Saturday, with Arteta hoping that Declan Rice will recover from his knee injury in time to play.