ENDING 2025 ON TOP: The Zubimendi Masterclass & A Second Half Blitz (Arsenal 4-1 Villa)

Date: Thursday, January 01, 2026 
Mood: Top of the League & 5 Points Clear! 🥳

What a way to sign off the year.

If you were nervous when the team news dropped, you weren't alone. No Declan Rice (knee injury—please let it be minor) in the biggest home game of December? Against an Aston Villa side that had won 11 games in a row? I was worried a little to be honest.

But this team... this team just finds a way. We didn't just beat Unai Emery’s side; we dominated them in the 2nd half.

The "Rice-Less" Worry & A Tense First Half

The first 45 minutes were sticky. You could feel the tension in the Emirates. Without Rice’s physical presence, Villa’s midfield runners (Onana and Tielemans) were finding big gaps to run into during their counter-attacks . We looked a bit disjointed, and honestly, if Ollie Watkins had his shooting boots on early, we could have been in trouble.

But we held firm. Saliba and Gabriel being back together at the back brings a calmness that you just can't buy. They kept us in it when we weren't at our best.

The Second Half Explosion 💥

Whatever Arteta said at halftime needs to be bottled and sold. We came out with a purpose.

• 1-0 (48 mins): Who else? Big Gabi. A trademark corner, a towering header. BIG Relief!!! Set-piece FC is back!

• 2-0 (52 mins): This was the moment of the match for me. Martin Zubimendi. Stepping into that Rice role, he didn't just defend; he surged forward. That outside-of-the-boot finish from Odegaard’s pass? Pure class.

• 3-0 (69 mins): Leo Trossard. The most clinical finisher at the club? He curled one in from the edge of the box to kill the game dead. Even VAR could not find ways to disallow that goal.

• 4-0 (78 mins): A special mention for Gabriel Jesus. He’s had a tough few months, but coming off the bench and curling that beauty into the corner? You could see how much it meant to him.

(Let's ignore the Watkins consolation goal in stoppage time—it annoyed Raya, but it didn't ruin the party).

Key Talking Points

1. Life Without Rice: We passed the test. Zubimendi stepped up massively, and Odegaard dropped deeper to help control the tempo. It proves we do have a squad capable of adapting.

2. The Emery "Curse" Lifted: Unai Emery has haunted us recently, but yesterday he had no answers for our intensity. We pressed them into oblivion in that second half.

3. The Table: We wake up on New Year's Day 5 points clear of Man City.

We are halfway there. Let's hope that we maintain the lead and momentum.

Happy New Year! Let’s make 2026 ours.

COYG!