The fluent football of autumn returned against an Aston Villa team who have often caused Arteta’s side problems
Should Arsenal lift the Premier League trophy in May, the thrill of the chase will be remembered fondly, difficult forks in the road glorified. Here was a statement win to show that the pain and agony can be worth it. A champion team must often suffer to arrive at beautiful moments. Those scratchy wins over Wolves, Everton and Brighton can now be celebrated alongside a champagne evening to sign off 2025.
The club’s familiarity with chasing the title as the league turns for home has bred an unavoidable anxiety. April and May have previously proved the cruellest months but December has been full of worries. In pre-match, “north London forever” was sung tremulously, fans seeking a collective warmth to ward off individual doubts about the dream. For 45 minutes, fans, players and manager alike were left alone with their private agonies, only for the second half where Arsenal played the expansive, confident football of the autumn, smashing in four goals to vaporise the unease.
Aston Villa were a feared opponent, all too familiar. Bringing their winning run – and perhaps their title challenge – to an abrupt end added further satisfaction, burying a recent ghost and some former employees, too. Emi Martínez, a former Gunner, fed off the frustration with his time-keeping, and was barracked as he headed in for half-time. How the home fans enjoyed him being culpable for Arsenal’s first goal. It was only 24 days previously that Emi Buendía’s 95th-minute winner at Villa Park was followed by Arsenal players sinking to the turf as if another disappointing May had already been reached.
