For a moment, it seemed Arsenal was beginning to falter.
Following a disappointing loss to Aston Villa at the start of December, they managed to secure narrow victories against Wolves, Everton, and Brighton, but not without struggle.
However, the Gunners managed to pull together crucial wins, dispelling any doubts about their championship aspirations with a commanding 4-1 triumph over Villa at home on Tuesday.
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This victory not only kept Unai Emery’s formidable side at bay in third place, but it also sent a strong message to any team that might want to challenge their title hopes.
As they head into 2026 and the latter half of the season, Arsenal sits atop the league, five points ahead of second-placed Manchester City, with Villa trailing just one point behind.
“Arsenal’s performance against Villa illustrates their current standing,” former Aston Villa striker Dion Dublin shared with BBC Radio 5 Live.
“Everything is aligning for them, thanks to contributions from the manager, players, and staff.”
Ex-England midfielder Danny Murphy remarked on Match of the Day: “Arsenal’s display made a significant statement. It was powerful, full of quality, and showcased their depth.”
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Yet, given their history of letting titles slip away after finishing as runners-up for three consecutive seasons, will Arsenal finally clinch the championship this time, aiming for their first title since 2004?
Arsenal will finish the calendar year at the top of the Premier League for the seventh time [Getty Images]
‘Now is not the time to get nervous’
Arsenal has found themselves in this position before.
They entered 2023 at the summit, five points ahead of Manchester City.
However, they ultimately watched Guardiola’s men lift the trophy at the end of the season, finishing five points ahead of them.
A similar fate befell them in the 2002-03 season when they were at the top in December but ended five points behind Manchester United.
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In fact, over the past six instances in which Arsenal finished the year in first place, they have only managed to secure the Premier League title once—in the 2001-02 season.
This history contributes to a cautious optimism among fans, who are wary of celebrating too soon.
“It’s reasonable to be cautious – they haven’t won a league title in almost 22 years,” former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher said on Sky Sports.
“But the time to feel really anxious is April and May, not right now. There’s still a long way to go.”
Historically, the team that has held the top spot at the year’s end has gone on to win the Premier League in 17 out of 33 occasions (52%).
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‘We know what we want from 2026’
But are the Gunners finally finding their rhythm, nearly two decades since their last title win during the ‘invincible’ season?
Manager Mikel Arteta stated to BBC Sport: “We realize the journey ahead. This past year has been incredible.”
“We know our goals for 2026; it’s going to be hard-earned and we still have a long way to go.”
The win against Villa marked the first time since December 8 that Gabriel and William Saliba started together as center-backs.
Even in their absence, Arsenal maintained the league’s tightest defense, conceding just 12 goals across 19 matches—the lowest in the league.
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In the match against Villa, both players delivered strong performances in a scoreless first half before Brazilian Gabriel ignited the scoring three minutes after the break.
“Arsenal stays composed; they trust their defenders to handle one-on-one situations,” Danny Murphy remarked on BBC Sport.
“With Saliba and Gabriel paired again, they laid the groundwork for that impressive second-half performance. They bring athleticism, composure, and an element of fear to the opposition.”
‘A huge result in lots of ways’
However, as Arteta emphasized, there remains a “long way” to go, with both City and Villa closely pursuing Arsenal.
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Guardiola’s side, who have edged Arsenal out for the Premier League title on two occasions since Arteta took command in 2019, could close the gap to just two points if they secure a victory against Sunderland on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Villa had been riding a remarkable 11-match winning streak prior to the matchup at the Emirates, and manager Emery will be hoping this defeat is merely a temporary setback.
“This is significant for Arsenal in many respects,” Carragher noted, offering praise.
“The quality of the opponent, marking the first time Arsenal has overcome a true rival this season, the nature of the win, and their dominant display in the second half. They completely overwhelmed Aston Villa.”