Gabriel Magalhães's second-half goal ignited a dominant Arsenal performance, resulting in a 4-1 victory over Aston Villa. The win allows Arsenal to maintain a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League as they head into 2026.
The first half was a tense and frustrating affair for Arsenal, with Aston Villa posing a significant threat. Ollie Watkins exploited long balls and created several opportunities, but Arsenal managed to keep the score level. Arsenal were missing the presence of Declan Rice in midfield during this period.
The game transformed early in the second half when Gabriel Magalhães capitalized on poor goalkeeping from Emiliano Martinez to break the deadlock in the 48th minute. Just four minutes later, Martín Zubimendi extended Arsenal's lead, assisted by a through ball from Martin Ødegaard. These quick goals shifted the momentum entirely in Arsenal's favor.
Leandro Trossard further solidified Arsenal's dominance with a well-placed goal in the 69th minute, and Gabriel Jesus added another, compounding Aston Villa's woes. While Ollie Watkins managed a consolation goal for Villa in stoppage time, it did little to change the outcome.
Arsenal's victory was a statement win after five somewhat unconvincing wins following their defeat to Aston Villa just 25 days prior. Having Gabriel back in the starting lineup after a previous layoff was a boost for the team. However, they were still without Riccardo Calafiori and Declan Rice, the latter missed due to a knee injury sustained while filling in at right-back in the previous match.
Aston Villa, who had been on an impressive 11-match unbeaten run in all competitions, struggled to contain Arsenal's second-half surge. The absence of key players like Matty Cash and Boubacar Kamara due to suspension also impacted their performance. The substitutions of Donyell Malen and Andrés García in the 61st minute couldn't change the flow of the match.
Gabriel Magalhães expressed his delight after the game, emphasizing his desire to contribute to the team's success. Arsenal's dominant second-half display showcased their title credentials and sent a strong message to their rivals. With Manchester City able to close the gap with a win against Sunderland on New Year's Day, Arsenal know they need to maintain this level of performance to stay ahead in the title race.
