FA PREMIER LEAGUE 

ARSENAL 4 (Gabriel 48, Zubimendi 52, Trossard 69, Jesus 78)  

VILLA 1  (Watkins 94)

AFTER a run of unconvincing wins in December, Arsenal ended the year with a dominant and confidence-boosting drubbing of an in-form rival.

There were four goals – three from open play – with Leandro Trossard shining once again and Gabriel, William Saliba and Jurien Timber were back running the show in defence.

Fears that missing the injured Declan Rice were forgotten at the full time whistle when Unai Emery raced off before a handshake and Emi Martinez had to be dragged away down the tunnel after abuse from fans got the better of him.

After the match, Mikel Arteta said: “Unlike the last few games where we had so many big situations, today we were very prolific and accurate to make the difference.

“It’s a great way to end the year, that’s for sure, and tomorrow we’ll have a good night with our families …”

Arsenal have won four in a row since the devastating injury time defeat at Villa Park earlier this the month.

But the victories had felt quite edgy and there was a sense that the Gunners’ emerging frailty would be exposed by a better side.

Viktor Gyokeres header looped harmlessly over in the first attempt of the match, before he had a second that flew more purposely just over the top corner.

Villa had three dangerous counter attacks in the first 20 minutes.

Andre Onana dived when he could have fashioned a shot in one chance while Oli Watkins hooked wide when he should have at least forced a save from Raya.

Arsenal played well in periods in the first half – but the threat was always there.

The play was all going down the left since, possibly due to Matty Cash being injured, with Bukayo Saka strangely isolated.

Trossard and Martin Odegaard were clicking and looked most likely to make the break through.

Onana went off at half time and Villa seemed unbalanced, while Arsenal turned up the heat.

There was a warmly familiar sight as Gabriel outmuscled Martinez from a Bukayo Saka corner for the opener.

Praising his returning Number 6, Arteta said: “He impacted the game in an incredible way, both defending and in the opposition box.”

The Villa keeper made a big fuss about the Gabriel goal, putting the ball on the six yard line expecting a VAR intervention, but the replays showed he was weak in coming to claim the ball.

Minutes later Odegaard picked up the ball from an interception in midfield and ran directly at goal, feeding Zubimendi in the number 9 position with a straight rolled pass.

He calmly found the bottom corner with the outside of his boot that dinked over Martinez leg.

Both Odegaard and Zubimendi were sensational in the second half.

Timber hooked over after another corner melee while Odegaard fired over after jinking-in on the angle.

He had been denied by a finger tip save from Martinez before Trossard smashed in a beauty from a central position outside the box that was initially ruled out for offside.

There was a huge wait before the VAR approved the goal.

Christian Norgaard got a surprise run out after Mikel Merino was subbed-off after narrowly avoiding a second yellow.

Then Jesus curled in the fourth with his first touch after coming on – removing a t-shirt that said ‘I Belong to Jesus’.

Many of the Arsenal players praise God in match interviews.

One great mystery continued … What has Eberechi Eze done to be cast out into the cold after three straight league games as an unused sub?

He must feel punished by a higher power.

Oli Watkins scored a consolation goal in injury time that only mattered to the Arsenal’s clean sheet obsessed defenders and fantasy football players.

The Gunners let a two goal lead slip here two seasons ago, a draw that ultimately surrendered the title to City.

But this result appears to show they have grown and maybe this is their year after all.

The fans’ faith is restored and they are going to start believing again.

Arsenal: Raya, Hincapié, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly, Saliba, Timber (White 83), Merino (Nørgaard 73), Zubimendi, Ødegaard, Trossard, Gyökeres (Jesus 77), Saka (Madueke 83)
Subs not used: Kepa, Eze, Havertz, Lewis-Skelly, Madueke, Martinelli

Villa: Martínez, Digne, Lindelöf, Konsa, Bogarde, Tielemans (Hemmings 82), Onana (McGinn 46), Buendía (García 61), Rogers (Jimoh-Aloba 82), Sancho (Malen 61), Watkins
Subs not used: Bizot, García, Maatsen, Routh, Wright