Arsenal put in a blistering performance to down Aston Villa at the Emirates. Check out the best facts and Opta data in our Arsenal vs Aston Villa stats page.
Table-toppers Arsenal made abundantly clear to their rivals just how strong a force they should be considered in this title race with a remarkable second-half showing against Aston Villa.
Villa had come into the game on a record-breaking winning run, while Arsenal were forced to make do without key man Declan Rice from their midfield for the first time this season, and for only the fourth time since he joined the club. Following a wobble in recent weeks that has seen them drop points a few times and very nearly slip up against rock-bottom Wolves, doubts were creeping in about their credentials.
But there should be no questioning what they can achieve after they battered quality opponents with four goals in half an hour after the break at the Emirates Stadium to wrap up their 2025 in style.
Key to the win was the return from injury of Gabriel Magalhães and his partnership with William Saliba. Before the game, Arsenal had won all five Premier League matches this season when those two had played the full 90 minutes as a centre-back partnership, keeping five clean sheets in the process. Here, they very nearly added a sixth game to that run, but Gabriel had departed the pitch by the time Villa scored their late consolation.
The Arsenal defence wasn’t completely untroubled, though. Birthday boy Ollie Watkins caused them some early issues, having three shots inside the opening 18 minutes – in which time Arsenal had only two – including one huge chance that he mishit and will surely look back on as one he should have scored.
His lively start came in complete contrast to the centre-forward Arsenal spent big on in the summer, Viktor Gyökeres. The Swede had only one touch of the ball in the first 32 minutes of the game.
That was indicative of how Arsenal hadn’t started the game as they so often dominate at home. Their 126 completed passes in the opening 30 minutes was their lowest in a home Premier League game this season.
But after a shaky few weeks and some signs of potential early nerves, they grew in confidence as the game went on, and chances started coming their way. The end of the first half, when they managed to create a few decent openings, proved a sign of what was to come.
Villa lost Amadou Onana to injury at the break – adding to the absence from their central midfield of the suspended Boubacar Kamara – but that alone cannot account for how swiftly they fell apart.
First, Arsenal scored from yet another set-piece, with Gabriel predictably getting the goal. They have now scored 17 goals from corners in 2025 in the Premier League; only Manchester United in 2012 (18) have ever netted more in a calendar year. Gabriel has more Premier League goals (19) than any other defender since his Arsenal debut.
Then, the floodgates opened. Martín Zubimendi slotted home neatly after some fantastic work from Martin Ødegaard, who won the ball high up the pitch and then slipped the Spaniard in on goal.
17 – Arsenal have scored 17 goals from corners in 2025 in the Premier League; only Manchester United in 2012 (18) have ever netted more in a calendar year. Avenue. pic.twitter.com/xNQ1nR3Iuo
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 30, 2025Leandro Trossard fired in an unstoppable third from the edge of the box, ensuring he ended 2025 with the most goals (10) and goal involvements (18) for Arsenal in the Premier League, and substitute Gabriel Jesus completed the rout just 55 seconds after coming off the bench.
There was a late reward for his hard work for Watkins, but it counted for nothing, as Villa’s 11-game winning run came to an abrupt end.
For Arsenal, the win took them six points ahead of Villa, and five clear of Manchester City at the top of the table. According to the Opta supercomputer, their chances of winning the title went from 65.8% before the game to 72.0% at full-time.
At the halfway point of their season, it isn’t over, but Arsenal are looking very, very good value to win their first Premier League trophy in more than two decades.
Our Opta match centre delivers you all the Arsenal vs Aston Villa stats from their Premier League meeting at the Emirates.
The match centre below includes team and player stats, expected goals data, passing networks, an Opta chalkboard and more. It gives you everything you need to do your own match analysis.
Underneath the match centre you can find the official Opta stats on the game as well.
Arsenal vs Aston Villa Stats: Post-Match Facts
Gabriel Magalhães scored his 19th Premier League goal for Arsenal, with this the most by any defender since his debut in the competition in September 2020. Overall, Laurent Koscielny (22) is the only defender with more Premier League goals for the Gunners than the Brazilian (19). Gabriel Jesus (55 seconds) is just the third player to score within a minute of coming on as a substitute in the Premier League this season, along with Donyell Malen v Brighton (32 seconds) and Enes Ünal v West Ham (53 seconds). Arsenal will end the calendar year at the top of the Premier League for the seventh time, the joint-most of any side, along with Liverpool and Manchester United.Enjoy this? Subscribe to our football newsletter to receive exclusive weekly content. You should also follow our social accounts over on X, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.
Arsenal 4-1 Aston Villa Stats: Rampant Gunners Send Message to Title Rivals With Second-Half Blitz Opta Analyst.
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