Mikel Arteta warned Arsenal’s title rivals that their ruthless 4-1 rout of Aston Villa showed they are on track to win the\u00a0Premier League\u00a0for the first time in 22 years.<\/p>\n
Arteta’s side issued a significant statement of intent in the title race by crushing Villa with a second half blitz at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
A costly mistake from Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez opened the floodgates as his failure to catch a corner allowed Gabriel Magalhaes to bundle home.<\/p>\n
Martin Zubimendi doubled the lead moments later before Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Jesus produced clinical finishes to complete the demolition.<\/p>\n
Ollie Watkins’ stoppage-time goal was no consolation for out-classed Villa, who paid the price for failing to turn their first half dominance into goals.<\/p>\n
After losing at Villa and Liverpool and drawing with Manchester City and Chelsea earlier this season, Arsenal finally have a landmark victory in the bid to win the title.<\/p>\n
Arteta\u00a0hailed the result as proof Arsenal have what it takes to lift the Premier League trophy at last after finishing as runners-up for three successive seasons.<\/p>\n
“Well, it has been a great 2025 on a personal and professional level. The way these guys, the club and the staff make me enjoy my work every single day is brilliant,” Arteta said.<\/p>\n
“In 2026, we know what we want. We will have to work really hard for it every single day, but I think we are on the right tracks for it.”<\/p>\n
Arsenal end 2025 five points clear of second-placed Manchester City, who play their game in hand at Sunderland on Thursday, while third-placed Villa are six points adrift of the leaders.<\/p>\n
Ending Villa’s club-record equalling 11-match winning run was a sweet moment for Arteta after the pain of Emiliano Buendia’s stoppage-time winner for Unai Emery’s men earlier in December.<\/p>\n
‘Really meticulous’<\/p>\n
“It is a beautiful evening. That was a very tough match, as we knew it would be, because they are a top opponent,”\u00a0 said Arteta.<\/p>\n
“The first 10 minutes were a bit shaky and we had to adjust things. After that, we grabbed the game and we were creating the chances.<\/p>\n
“The way we started the second half was amazing. We really turned things up and were efficient in everything that we did.<\/p>\n
“We had to be really meticulous. It’s a big credit to my players because against this team it isn’t easy.”<\/p>\n
After grinding out a series of victories with just a one-goal margin lately, this was the kind of swaggering display that underlined Arsenal’s vast potential.<\/p>\n
“We needed scrappy goals to win other games but today the quality of our finishing was top and made the difference,” Arteta said.<\/p>\n
Praising Brazil defender Gabriel’s influence on his first start since being injured in November, Arteta added: “We saw it today. He came back after six weeks out and composed himself against one of the best strikers in the league in Ollie Watkins. I thought he was tremendous.”<\/p>\n
Arteta and Emery didn’t shake hands at the final whistle, with the Villa boss claiming his fellow Spaniard was too busy celebrating to acknowledge him.<\/p>\n
“When I finish the match I am always waiting to shake hands with another coach but he was with his coaches and I can’t wait for him. Of course, I was there but no problem. I went to my dressing room,” Emery said.<\/p>\n
Arteta played down the incident, saying: “Sometimes we are in this sort of moment, so it’s not an issue for me.”<\/p>\n
Emery was left to rue Martinez’s mistake and an injury to Belgium midfielder Amadou Onana, which he felt changed the momentum of the match.<\/p>\n
“The first goal, how they scored it maybe could be foul but here in England it is more difficult because the referees let you touch the keepers,” he said.<\/p>\n
“That changed everything. After Onana’s injury we lost everything in the middle. Arsenal have the power they showed. That is football.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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