Arsenal Vs Aston Villa Highlights, Premier League 2025-26: Gunners Thrash AVFC To Solidify Top Spot

• Location: London, England

• Stadium: Emirates Stadium

• Date: Wednesday, December 31

• Kick-off Time: 1:45 a.m. IST

Arsenal have been dealt a major blow ahead of their game against Villa with Declan Rice set to miss the action with a knee injury as per The Athletic.

Arsenal starting XI: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie, Zubimendi, Merino, Odegaard, Trossard, Saka, Gyokeres

Subs: Arrizabalaga, Lewis-Skelly, Norgaard, Madueke, Havertz, Eze, Martinelli, Jesus, White

Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Konsa, Lindelof, Digne, Bogarde, Onana, Tielemans, Rogers, Sancho, Buendia, Watkins

Subs: Bizot, Wright, McGinn, Garcia, Malen, Jimoh-Aloba, Maatsen, Hemmings, Routh

Players of both teams enter the arena with kick-off seconds away.

We are away at the Emirates Stadium. Electric atmosphere.

Arsenal 0-0 Aston Villa 1'

Arsenal start with an early pressure on their opponents, who are sitting quiet deep in their half.

Arsenal 0-0 Aston Villa 4'

Onana goes on a run with Arsenal defenders huffing and puffing but it end up earning a corner.

Arsenal 0-0 Aston Villa 11'

Aston Villa pinch a ball in the middle of the park and pass it to the in-form Watkins who scores wide. Frustrated is the England forward.

Arsenal 0-0 Aston Villa 14'

Villa having chances at Arsenal end but the hosts too have a go on but still it remains goalless. This is going to be a tasty affair.

Arsenal 0-0 Aston Villa 18'

Former Arsenal captain and the last man to win a Premier League title, Patrick Vieira is in the stands for the game.

Arsenal 0-0 Aston Villa 23'

Arsenal win a free-kick but AVFC defend well as they clear it for a quick counter and in the process, win a corner.

Arsenal 0-0 Aston Villa 31'

Emery has set his side very well here, with man-marking at the T. Bukayo Saka has not had a sniff on the Villa goal.

Arsenal 0-0 Aston Villa 34'

The game's best chances have fallen to Aston Villa and Unai Emery will want his players to do more, especially when they come out for the 2nd half.

Arsenal 0-0 Aston Villa 39'

Seems like Mikel Arteta gets a word in the ear from referee Darren England. Fans respond with a chant in the Spanish coach's name.

Arsenal 0-0 Aston Villa 44'

Gunners have been left frustrated by the Aston Villa team. Unai Emery's side have not given Gunners any bit of opportunity to score.

Arsenal 0-0 Aston Villa HT

We are off with Unai Emery making one change from the first half as Onana makes way and on comes skipper John McGinn.

Arsenal 0-0 Aston Villa 46'

Guess who's back! Gabriel, corner, goal! Arsenal take the lead with a bullet header from the Brazilian defender. Arsenal fans are jubilant.

Arsenal 1-0 Aston Villa 49'

Oh what a goal! Arsenal go two up in no time. Martin Odegaard pinches a ball in the middle of the park and neatly, passes it to Zubimendi who scores with aplomb.

Arsenal 2-0 Aston Villa 52'

Unai Emery has seen enough of his players and is preparing two players ready on the sidelines. Gunners now sitting deep with Villa attacking the Arsenal half.

Arsenal 2-0 Aston Villa 57'

You can see that Villa are missing some key players like Cash and Kamara. Moreover, the injury to Onana has not helped the cause either.

Arsenal 2-0 Aston Villa 63'

Wow! Martin Odegaard is in some form tonight as he sees his effort save by Emi Martinez.

Arsenal 2-0 Aston Villa 65'

Leandro Trossard shoots it past Martinez but VAR check in for a possible offside however, after check upstairs, the goal stands and Emirates erupts.

Arsenal 3-0 Aston Villa 73'

Gabriel goes down injured and could be a worrying sign. The defender looks like a change here and AFC might want to make a sub.

Arsenal 3-0 Aston Villa 76'

Arsenal ending 2025 with a thumping win. 4-0 at the Emirates and Villa's winning run coming to an end.

Arsenal 4-0 Aston Villa 78'

Gunners are putting on a show and solidifying their status as Premier League title favourites. Meantime, we have some subs - Villa send on Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba and George Hemmings for Premier League debuts.

Morgan Rogers and Youri Tielemans are replaced.

Arsenal 4-0 Aston Villa 82'

Arsenal send on Noni Madueke and Ben White for Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber.

Arsenal 4-0 Aston Villa 84'

Gunners bring out the 'top of the league' chants with fourth official signaling 8 mins added on.

Arsenal 4-0 Aston Villa 90+1'

David Raya saves another one but ends up gifting his clean sheet as Ollie Watkins scores from a Malen assist.

Arsenal 4-1 Aston Villa 90+4'

Arsenal end 2025 five points clear at the top of the Premier League table. A 4-1 thrashing against a title contender, this result does prove their title credentials.

Arsenal 4-1 Aston Villa