Arsenal Storm Past Villa with Second-Half Blitz
Slow and Scrappy Start
Arsenal struggled in the first half against Aston Villa. Without Declan Rice in midfield, the Gunners looked shaky and lacked control. Villa created the best chances early, but poor finishing kept the score 0-0 at halftime. Arsenal dominated possession but could not turn it into goals.
Second Half Turnaround
The game changed immediately after the break. Gabriel Magalhães opened the scoring with a powerful header from a corner. Just five minutes later, Martín Zubimendi made it 2-0 with a precise finish, showing Arsenal’s quick reaction after regaining the ball. Villa looked stunned and could not mount a real response.
Trossard and Jesus Seal the Win
Leandro Trossard added a third goal in the 69th minute after a cross from Ødegaard caused confusion in the Villa defense. Gabriel Jesus came on as a substitute and scored the fourth with a curling shot, finishing off a brilliant team move. Villa scored a late goal through Ollie Watkins, but it was only a consolation.
What This Means for the League
Arsenal stay top of the Premier League with a five-point lead going into 2026. Villa’s winning run ended at 11 matches, and they remain six points behind the leaders in third place. Arsenal look confident as they continue their quest for the title, showing they can dominate when everything clicks in the second half.
