Mikel Arteta declares Arsenal ‘know what we want’ after a 4-1 demolition of Aston Villa sends a title statement, moving five points clear.
LONDON: Mikel Arteta warned Arsenal’s title rivals that their ruthless 4-1 rout of Aston Villa showed they are on track to win the Premier League.
Arteta’s side issued a significant statement of intent by crushing Villa with a second half blitz at the Emirates Stadium.
A costly mistake from Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez opened the floodgates as his failure to catch a corner allowed Gabriel Magalhaes to bundle home.
Martin Zubimendi doubled the lead moments later before Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Jesus produced clinical finishes to complete the demolition.
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.
Arteta hailed 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.
“In 2026, we know what we want,” Arteta said. “We will have to work really hard for it every single day, but I think we are on the right tracks for it.”
Arsenal end 2025 five points clear of second-placed Manchester City, while third-placed Villa are six points adrift of the leaders.
Ending Villa’s club-record equalling 11-match winning run was a sweet moment for Arteta after the pain of a stoppage-time defeat to them earlier in December.
“It is a beautiful evening,” said Arteta. “The way we started the second half was amazing. We really turned things up and were efficient in everything that we did.”
After grinding out a series of narrow victories lately, this was the kind of swaggering display that underlined Arsenal’s vast potential.
Arteta and Villa boss Unai Emery didn’t shake hands at the final whistle, with Emery claiming his fellow Spaniard was too busy celebrating.
Arteta played down the incident, saying: “Sometimes we are in this sort of moment, so it’s not an issue for me.”
Emery was left to rue Martinez’s mistake and an injury to midfielder Amadou Onana, which he felt changed the momentum of the match.
“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. “That changed everything.”
