Arsenal moved five points clear at the top of the Premier League after a 4-1 demolition of Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium, with all four goals arriving after half-time. Mikel Arteta’s team will lead
the table into 2026, although Manchester City can trim the gap to two points when visiting Sunderland on 1 January.
The result ended Villa’s surge and delivered a heavy blow in the title race. This was the biggest Premier League winning margin in a meeting of top-three sides since Manchester City beat Arsenal 4-1 in April 2023. Villa’s long winning streak also ended with a defeat by at least three goals.
Villa travelled to north London chasing a club-record 12th straight victory in all competitions and an eighth successive league win, yet Unai Emery’s side left with a sobering reminder of the demands at the summit. It was only the fourth time a Premier League winning run of eight or more matches ended with a loss by three goals or more.
The previous example came in 2020, when Liverpool’s run of 18 consecutive Premier League victories stopped with a 3-0 defeat at Watford. Arsenal’s success also means the club will finish a calendar year on top of the Premier League for the seventh time, which is the joint-highest total, matching Liverpool and Manchester United.
Arsenal also finished ahead in the expected goals numbers, recording 3.17 to Villa’s 2.67. The visitors’ total rose sharply in stoppage time after several late openings at 4-0 down. Key match statistics are shown below, highlighting how the contest shifted after the break.
| Team | Goals | Expected goals (xG) | Premier League winning run before match |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenal | 4 | 3.17 | Not specified |
| Aston Villa | 1 | 2.67 | 8 matches |
The first half suggested a far tighter contest. Villa threatened often on the counter at the home of Emery’s former club, with Ollie Watkins sweeping Villa’s best chance wide. Arsenal also created danger before the break, as Viktor Gyokeres twice went close with headers that tested the visitors’ defence.
Everything changed after the interval, with Arsenal returning from the dressing room looking sharper and more aggressive. Within seven minutes of the restart, Arsenal scored twice. Gabriel Magalhaes headed in the opener after Emiliano Martinez failed to deal with a cross in the 48th minute, punishing the former Arsenal goalkeeper.
Martin Odegaard then unlocked Villa again with a precise pass into the penalty area. Martin Zubimendi met the ball and used the outside of a boot to guide a clever finish beyond Martinez, completing a rapid double that altered the mood inside the stadium and left Villa chasing shadows.
It's what he does pic.twitter.com/WqDlpDGWWmArsenal (@Arsenal) December 30, 2025
Arsenal’s pressing from the front grew more intense as Villa tried to build from deep. That pressure produced the third goal on 69 minutes, when Leandro Trossard met a cross with a superb first-time finish. The strike stood after a VAR review checked two separate potential offsides during the move.
Substitute Jesus added further damage 78 minutes in, making an instant impact. Jesus arrived from the bench and scored within 55 seconds, collecting Trossard’s low centre and bending a curling effort past Martinez. Jesus then removed the shirt when celebrating, as Arsenal supporters reacted loudly to a decisive scoreline.
Villa still found a late consolation during added time after continuing to create chances. Watkins headed against a post, and John McGinn missed a clear opportunity, while Donyell Malen struck the same upright. Four minutes into stoppage time, Malen’s shot again came back off the woodwork and Watkins tapped in the rebound.
Arsenal’s convincing win tightened control of the title race heading into 2026 and reinforced the significance of home form against direct rivals. Villa’s eight-game Premier League winning run ended with a harsh lesson, while the data and scoreline together underlined how dominant Arsenal became once the second half began.
