Arsenal send out a statement with a 4-1 win over title challengers Aston Villa

0:06Thanks for joining us on the Sky Sports Premier League podcast. There were six games live on Sky Sports on Tuesday evening, including Arsenal against Aston Villa and Manchester United against Wolves. Here's how we saw things at the end of the night.

0:29Arsenal end 2025 in some style. They'll start the new year with a five-point lead on Manchester City and they have swatted aside their other rivals, keeping Villa at arm's length with a six-point advantage. Player of the match, Gabriel, started it off for them, getting the better of Emi Martinez from a corner with the opening goal. And within a matter of minutes of that, Martin Subimendi made it 2-0. And there was no holding back as Trossard and Gabriel Jesus with really clean clinical finishes made absolutely sure that Arsenal's authority was on show. The only minor setback, a goal near the end for Oli Watkins, but at the end that won't matter too much for Arsenal, who inflicts on Unai Emery his first defeat back here.

1:26It's Arsenal's fourth Premier League win in a row since their loss at Villa Park, which they have avenged here. Their seventh successive in the Premier League at home. They're still unbeaten here this season. Ten Premier League matches now and 15 in all competitions. It really is looking rosy at the Emirates and they have laid down a big challenge to Manchester City ahead of their New Year's Day encounter. Arsenal 4, Aston Villa 1. Big second-half performance. Big statement made, Jamie. me. Huge result for them in lots of ways, the calibre of the opposition, the first time Arsenal have beaten a real rival this season, the Manor have the victory in the second half performance as well, completely demolished Aston Villa, scoring the goals and making sure the stadium wasn't nervous at the end, it was something the crowd could enjoy in the last 15-20 minutes, you hear them playing their anthem at the end there, all the supporters at the end of the game.

2:31It was a game to be enjoyed, not sort of worried about, as we've seen in the last few weeks. And Arsenal needed that. Yeah, those two quick goals were so important, weren't they, at the start of the second half? As Jamie says, just to calm everything down, because Villa had had some chances in that first half. Yeah, they did. And I think that, you know, we talked about the nerves around the stadium in the first half. And, you know, Villa had a couple of chances that, you know, they obviously didn't put away. I think, obviously, things were said at half-time by Michelin Arterra. and the way Arsenal come out in the second half, it looked like there was no nerves at all.

3:03And, you know, they got the goals in quick succession and they just put the foot down and went full throttle after that. And, you know, they got more and more goals and obviously it'd be disappointing conceding one, but it was a performance where, you know, against the rival, like they say, to say that we're here, we're in this title race and we're not looking to look back, we're looking forwards. It felt more like, it felt more than three points. Yeah. That's always good, but it feels more, But I think psychologically what it'll do for them, when they're all coming into the training ground tomorrow, the feeling about the place will be completely different than what they've had in the last few weeks.

3:35But to do it without him as well, who he definitely missed in that first half, there's no doubt about that. But him being back is huge. Alan Smith gave him man of the match, Gabriel. I said, you know, probably a couple of months ago now, at that time I felt he was the most influential player in the Premier League. Asked his defensive record and again what he's like on set pieces and we've seen it again tonight. Calms it for the fans as well, doesn't it, Jeremy? I mean, you know, from a fan's perspective as well, we talked about nervousness around the place pre-match. It wasn't squeaking home 1-0 or 2-1 or having to hang on.

4:09It was comfortable. Yeah, and that's what they needed. Because it's understandable. They've gone almost 25 years without a league title. But the times they get really nervous is probably April and May. Not now. There's a long way to go. And it's too long for Arsenal supporters to be in that stadium. and thinking it's squeaky bum time. We're just getting out of December, only halfway through the season, so it was fantastic for everybody in that stadium, except the Villa supporters, but yeah, huge result for Arsenal, as I said, more than three points. David Ryan may have conceded a goal, but he produced another unbelievable save in that second half to go with the one he made at the weekend as well.

4:53So here are the results from all of tonight's game stories, wherever you look Burnley pushed so hard for an equaliser against Newcastle in that second half and then an error from Martin Dubravka right near the end of that game sealed Newcastle's win Bruno Guimaraes with that third goal Burnley won Newcastle three all the goals at Stamford Bridge came in the first half Chelsea two Bournemouth two Chelsea drop points from a winning position at home again Everton went to their former manager Sean Dyches Nottingham Forest and won by two goals to Niel Tiana Barry with the second in that game. Penalties wherever you look to the London Stadium but it finished West Ham 2, Brighton 2, confirmation of Arsenal's 4-1 win over Aston Villa and if you're watching on Sky Sports Football, Wolves were well worth only their third point of the season at Old Trafford.

5:50It finished 1-1 there. We'll show you everything that's happened before we go off air tonight. See what those results do to the table. As several teams, all the teams that have played tonight, have reached the halfway stage of this Premier League season and Arsenal head into 2026 with a five-point lead over Manchester City. City play on New Year's Day. Liverpool, without playing, stay in the top four because Chelsea and Manchester United could only pick up a point. Wolves then with their third point of the season. They're still miles adrift of everybody else but they celebrated that point at Old Trafford.

6:33Burnley on 12. West Ham got a point so they've closed the gap on Nottingham Forest to four. Leeds play Liverpool on New Year's Day. And that will be just one of four fixtures as we go into 20-26. Leeds going to Anfield. We've also got Crystal Palace against Fulham. So both of those at five o 'clock. 7.45 for the other two. Sunderland against Manchester City and Brentford versus Spurs.

7:10Massive weekend in the Scottish Premiership. Tonight, Celtic have lost at Motherwell. So they are three points behind Hearts, having played the same number of games. And it is the Old Firm on Saturday morning, followed by the Dundee Derby as well at Tannadise. Big weekend in the Scottish Premiership.

7:39Brand new drama on Sky Atlantic. all episodes of Amadeus are available now. So many stories, so many goals. We will show it all before we go off air in the company of Ashley and Jamie. A point for Wolves wins for Newcastle. Point for Bournemouth as well at Chelsea. Everton winning much the delight of David Moyes. We'll show you everything that's happened when we come back. Plus all the reaction to Arsenal's statement win over Aston Villa that has taken them five clear heading into 20-20.

8:40Catch us every Sunday live on Sky Sports News between 9 and 11am with the podcast dropping as soon as we come off air. So if you don't already, give Sunday Supplement a follow wherever you get your podcasts and I'll see you on Sunday mornings. Welcome back to the Sky Sports Premier League podcast. Let's get back to the studio for more reaction to today's game.

9:07Real disturbs the goalkeeper and gets it over the line. Brilliant ball through, Zubabendi! Arsenal are flying now! Odegaard's cross, trying to keep it alive. Trossard! And Trossard's made the run on ahead of him. Saka on the far side, it's pulled back for Jesus, he's just on! And what an instant impact!

9:44Arsenal are flying, they demolished Aston Villa in that second half, winning 4-1 and going five points clear at the top of the Premier League. Here's what's happened elsewhere tonight. Chelsea have now dropped 13 points from winning positions at home, as Cliver got Bournemouth second in a 2-0 draw at Stamford Bridge. finished 2-2 as well at the London Stadium, that was Brighton's equaliser from a set-piece, Veltman getting it to leave Nuno cursing his luck.

10:23Everton have now scored their last five Premier League goals against Nottingham and they've done the double over them this season. Tiena Barry with the second. David Moyes' side winning 2-0 at City Ground this evening. And Newcastle have also done the double over Burnley. Martin Dubravka, Erra Handy and Bruno Guimaraes. Newcastle's third finish 3-1 at Turf Moor. and speaking of threes Wolves have got their third point of the season this their first half equaliser at Old Trafford Manchester United won Wolves won is how it finished

11:11but back here in our main game Arsenal have sent out a message to their title rivals one of whom was Aston Villa beating them by four goals to one and we've got Gabriel and Gabriel Jesus with Patrick Davies. Guys well played brilliant result breathtaking second half Gabriel personally for the two of you with your goals but also for the team how special a night was that? I think was amazing you know it's always hard to play against them you know they they have a brilliant players they come here all the time and they hurt us, you know, and then obviously it was clean that at the beginning of the game they tried to delay the game.

11:55Everyone could see that, but you know, the mentality of this team is something that really, really grow and then each game is growing even more. So I think we won today because of the mentality. And did we see tonight how much you've missed this guy? For sure. I said after the last game, straight away, when they asked me about him, at the moment he stepped on the pitch you could see the difference of our back line the way we defend this guy loves to defend the same way I love to attack and then obviously he loves to score goals as well So your teammates have missed you how much have you missed being able to help them out on the pitch?

12:37First I want to say thanks God because it was a bit difficult day for me and I always want to help the team but now I'm so happy to be back. And yeah, I think today was a brilliant day for everyone, how we work together. And yeah, I think we need to keep going. And yeah, we are so happy. How important was your goal? Well, to you, but also to the team, because the first half was difficult, wasn't it? Really sort of complicated for Arsenal. Yes, like Gabi said, it's very difficult to play against them. They want to delay the game. but we know we play at home and the second half we're just pushing and yeah we scored the first goal and after the team was unbelievable And how special was your goal to you?

13:27You started the year with a goal, you'll remember on New Year's Day against Brentford, you end the year with a goal but we all know in between times it's been very very difficult for you It's very clean that's why I'm hearing this t-shirt because Jesus obviously saved my life from the beginning when I was born, but I didn't know that. And then obviously through the tough moment in my life, I realized that we are nothing without Jesus. So I want to glorify his name because he makes a huge difference in this tough moment. So now in the shines moment, I want to glorify his name because to start the year, the way I was playing, you know, confidence back.

14:13And then for some reason, the Lord stopped me. And then I could learn a lot of things, you know, what I can do better as a person and then as a human being. So, yeah, I think it's amazing how Jesus works on our lives. You know, sometimes you just keep question, doubt in yourself, but you never know what's going to happen, what Jesus prepare for you so I just say keep going trust in the process and trust in Jesus. Okay well well spoken both of you. Gabriel Jesus I have one more job for you could you give this player of the match to Big Gabby? Well deserved. Thank you mate. Let's go. Spoke a lot didn't we pre-match Ashley about there being no Declan Rice and Jamie talked about the strength of the bench you know they've got these players coming back now both of those two uh Kai Havertz was on the bench as well so it's as much about the players that are coming back for them now yeah of course it is and you know Gabriel there and Gabriel Jesus are massive players for them Gabriel at the back centre half is we talked about leaders and you know how they go about they've missed him massively since he's been out and you know tonight he was he was colossal you know obviously getting the goal but you know his all-round play was was fantastic he marshalled Ollie Watkins of course Ollie scored but you know he he was he was fantastic when he was on the pitch and, you know, Arsenal have got a fantastic squad, probably one of the best in the league.

15:42You know, we've alluded to that as well. So, you know, if they can keep these players fit now, going into, like you say, the January, March, February times now, it's going to be vitally important when you come to that back end of the season. You know, we've seen it in previous seasons where they've fallen away. If they can keep everybody fit, you know, they're going to be a team that everybody wants to be. It's vital to them at both ends of the field, of course, isn't it? Gabriel is such a threat on set pieces you wonder whether they'll miss Declan Rice more with his set piece delivery but there's a lot of players who can take them but he gets on the end of them Yes we can look at the goalkeeper, it's a mistake but how often does Gabriel create mistakes from other people?

16:21People just feel nervous around them, you know, you're thinking Newcastle earlier in the season Nick Pope coming for something, not getting there I think he gets the touch on it I just think he makes people nervous when he's in that box, he has an effect on people now he's a big lad But normally that's the effect that you see someone who's 6-4, 6-5, you know, at Duncan Ferguson, if you like, in the past. But Gabriel, as I said, that's what I said earlier on this season, in both boxes, he's the most influential player in the Premier League. You look at the defensive record at Arsenal and what he does set piecewise, and we know, and they don't get criticised for it, maybe there's a few jibes, if you like.

16:57It's not a foul. He just jumps. No, but listen, they rely a lot on set pieces, but it doesn't matter. They score goals, they're amazing at it, And they've almost changed the Premier League and made everybody else look at set pieces because you say, look at Arsenal. Look at the results there, getting the points they're picking up on the back of set pieces. And it's made everybody else, as I said, look at set pieces, long throws now, because what Arsenal have been doing now for the last two or three years. He's got 17 goals from corners in the Premier League as Gabriel. We'll go on to the second goal and Zubomendi, who got the second, Ashley.

17:31Yeah, of course. And, you know, I think Villa undone himself, to be honest. but it's the way that Unai wants to play. You know, playing through the midfield, obviously Tillemans plays it into Jadon Sancho. They lose the ball and, you know, Odegaard, you've seen it so many times, as soon as he's in that position, he's looking to find the pass and Zubermandy makes the run and I feel the two centre-halves need to get in tighter there but, you know, they did it and, you know, he gets on the end of the pass and scores the goal. Yeah, I think Ashley's right there. You can look at Aston Villa and say, OK, should they be playing through there?

18:03But that's how they play. they enticed the opposition onto them to show real courage playing through the middle and think of what we showed at half-time that was Aston Villa running through the middle of that midfield and obviously that was something that we sorted out at half-time and it paid dividends at the start of the second half for Arsenal And then Arsenal really put their foot down, didn't they really? I mean they could have settled for two down on a tragic shop and this is where they kind of allowed their fans to enjoy the rest of the game and they started to enjoy themselves as well Yeah they did, they got really on top here and I say a mistake from Luka Dinye but it just comes off his knee and Trossard there, he's got one thought on his head to get his head over the ball, take the shot and it's a fantastic finish from the edge of the box.

18:46I mean, what a player he's been for. He was brought in as almost like a squad player a couple of years ago but he's forced himself now into the team and he's almost first choice on that left side and he always pops up with goals. Fantastic addition from Brighton. If you think that he's kept Martinelli on the bench Ezra's on the bench as well and then Gabriel Jesus comes off the bench and gets the fourth and then now with Jesus back and Havertz back they've got competition for that central striker role yeah real competition but I mean at this stage that's development really ragged and they sort of capitalised on that with Jesus you see them all over the place we didn't really see that in the first half but I am a huge fan of Jesus always have been he's probably not an amazing finisher this probably proves me wrong but he's a fantastic footballer and the one thing I would say maybe the slight negative on the night for Arsenal Jocherez shouldn't not be starting for Arsenal when they've got players like this I think in a couple of games time when Jesus is maybe a little bit more up to speed he's a better player than Jocherez it's just that's a fact you know he's been questioning before is he good enough for Arsenal to go on and win the league but right now he's better than the guy they brought in who they thought was going to win them the league So he's your number one?

20:03Yeah, him or Havertz as the central striker for Arsenal is a better player than Jokic Jokic is really game he has a go, in some ways I admire him the way he took that penalty at Everton he's got that sort of mindset of always look really intense in the game but I just think he lacks a little bit of finesse and quality when you think of what they've got on the bench so yes, he's being brought in but I think going forward because it'll start getting really twitchy March and April. Don't forget Man City got Haaland. I think Arsenal need to sort of improve on Jokeres and they've got players who can improve on Jokeres in Jesus.

20:36But is it a positive? Like, if you were in that Arsenal squad, is it a positive that those three players who could all go through the middle in that nine roll are all very different? Yeah, of course it is for an Arsenal team, especially Mikel Altec. He'd be looking at it thinking, you know, the different games that they're facing, different teams that they're facing, different formations. he can play the different strikers in those different games. Like you say, Gabriel Jesus there, he comes on, he's been out for a while, but the composure he shows to finish that off, I even think I said pass the ball when he went to shoot and score, so it shows how much I know.

21:10He's got that composure and like I say, Xhocarez, we said with the headers there, he's got to do better. But in different games, he might do differently. So, you know, it's one of the things, it's difficult to come to the Premier League and, you know, he's had time to settle in and now you want to see how much he's shown at Sporting to show what he's doing at Arsenal. But with them coming back with Kai Havertz now as well, you know, he's got three different options there. The manager will be, you know, absolutely delighted. There is a positive as well, isn't there, in them doing all of that tonight without Declan Rice.

21:45Obviously, they would prefer to have him, but what they didn't want building was a narrative of no Declan Rice and we find it tough. Well, that was definitely the narrative of half-time. There's no doubt that they missed in that first half but obviously they changed something slightly tactically, a little bit more aggressive, a little bit more compact in the midfield when you see them win that ball. The sort of three of them are all around each other. In the first half, there was space all over the place. Niner was making runs, Tielemans playing great passes through the middle. Listen, you'll always miss him no matter what the score is.

22:11He's that good of a player. Even if Arsenal had a run of four or five games, if he was out for them. He'd just go straight back in the team. That's how good a player he is. So, yes, you might say they didn't miss him, but they did miss him in that first half. You could see that was a huge hole in the midfield. They fixed that second half and went on to get a brilliant result, but he'll be straight back in as soon as he's fit. Yeah, Mick Arter is saying pretty much that it was a minor knee injury and they would hope to have him back sooner rather than later. Villa did get a consolation goal at the end through Ollie Watkins.

22:42There's no need to panic, though, is there? it's one result Ashley. Yeah of course it is and you look at the run they've been on they've been doing fantastically well like I said at the start of the show they've been going about their job quietly and you know it was one of them I don't think the Villa fans will be saying too much with this defeat they'll be looking at the games they've got coming up and looking to bounce back from that of course it's disappointing they'll sit down they'll talk about it I'm sure the manager will talk about what went wrong in the game and take the positives out of the first half and look to build on what they've been doing lately.

23:18Yeah, Jeremy? Yeah, listen, this is one of them where most of the team and the manager are not too fussed, but back four come in and the goalkeeper, we wanted our clean sheet. You have that mentality, and especially this back four and goalkeeper, because for me, they're the best back four and goalkeeper probably anywhere in the world right now. So, yes, they want to win the league, they want the three points but they want their defensive numbers as well so that'll be a little bit frustrated tonight especially after David Rast fantastic save just moments before Watkins put that in so goodnight for Arsenal a goodnight for Mikel Arteta but not for Unai Emery we will hear from both of them when we come back and we'll show you what's happened in all the other games this evening in the Premier League

24:09If you're enjoying this podcast, there are plenty more from Sky Sports we think you'll love too. There's the Gary Neville podcast for Gary's immediate reaction to the biggest matches. Transfer Talk has the latest on all the big moves in and out of the Premier League and beyond. And for WSL fans, check out Pitch to Pod with Jordan Nobbs and Nikita Paris. Just search for Sky Sports wherever you get your podcasts. For now, though, let's get back to the Sky Sports Premier League podcast.

25:05a year since his last goal in a win at Brentford comes on with a bang and makes it 4-0. Good night for Arsenal at the Emirates and it feels a long time ago since we had that Chelsea Arsenal game at Stamford Bridge where it felt like Chelsea were definitely going in the right direction because tonight they have dropped more points one win in seven for them 13 points they have let go at home from winning positions Bournemouth took the lead at Samford Bridge it's a little bit of a scramble David Brooks was credited with it but then Chelsea fought back Antoine Semenya committing a foul there on Esteval and that gave them a penalty and it looked then Jamie like Chelsea would go on and go into the ascendancy.

25:59Yeah, you'd expect that, because Bournemouth are in a really poor form at the moment. I mean, you know they're open defensively, because they really go for it themselves. And as soon as we saw Chelsea go two on a great finish from Enzo Fernandes, you thought they'd go on and win the game comfortably, but they let themselves down again on another long throw. Everybody's having problems with them this season, set piece-wise, but when you actually went and looked at the second half as well, they were probably lucky they got a point in the end, Chelsea. and it always felt like Bournemouth were on the ascendancy and that was the biggest chance in the second half.

26:30This was at the end of the game. Antoine Semenyo being pushed forward on his own to applaud the fans and wave to them. We wondered whether that was his goodbye. Andoni Iraola after the game, though, said this. Towards the end then, at the final whistle, we did see Antoine Semenyo going over to the Bournemouth fans, waving at them, embracing some of the players quite emotionally it looked like around him. Is that goodbye? Is that the last we've seen of him in a Bournemouth shirt? No, it's not. It's not? OK, so we can expect to see him featuring at the weekend. Yes, yes, yes.

27:09So that means he'll be available on Saturday to play Arsenal, Ashley, if we follow Ira Ola. Well, if we're going off the manager of what he's saying there, then definitely you're going to see Semenyo this weekend. You know, as a manager, you don't want to see a player like that leaving. so of course he's got to come out and say that he's going to be staying. Do you think it's his decision on Man City? Well, that was the conspiracy theory, wasn't it? If Manchester City are the favourite and look like they're going to sign him, I do wonder whether they've gone, do you know what, actually, keep him for the Arsenal game?

27:40Yeah, because we're not going to use him the weekend if we bring him in, so maybe you just have to make sure he doesn't get injured and make sure he gives Arsenal a run around. But listen, why wouldn't you? I mean, he's the best player at Bournemouth. going to Bournemouth is certainly a lot easier without him in the team and you know Man City will be looking at that and every point every game matters we're not quite in the running but who knows how important every game will be Sky Sports Premier League to watch Bournemouth against Arsenal on Saturday let's go to the City ground it's not been a very good festive period so far for Sean Dyche and Nottingham Forest beaten by Manchester City at home on Saturday and Everton have gone there this evening and one James Garner with that and we did wonder didn't we Ashley where where the goals might come from in this game he got the first and then Barry with the second yeah he did and Jimmy Garner's been fantastic since he's been at the club he's a fantastic player and you know he gets his goal and then you know in the second half he does fantastically well to to get the ball off to Tiano Barry and you know we said there's there's gonna have to be goals coming from all around the team and you know with James Garner getting on the ball and scoring there and I've seen it before, training alongside him, playing with him, he can provide them passes to the forwards and he's done that fantastically well.