A result with which Arsenal increased their gap over City to +5 (with a match more), ideally closing 2025. With the absence of international, Declan Rice in the midfield obvious, Arsenal had... lost. So Villa went on the counterattack. The header of the international Swedish forward Victor Gyokeres  in the 7th minute went just over the goal of the Argentine, Emiliano Martinez, with Villa then being the one on the attack. In the 13th minute, Ollie Watkins missed the biggest chance of the first half. The English forward found himself facing Raya, but his shot went past the Spaniard's right post. In the 36th minute, again with a header from Gyokeres, Arsenal threatened, but without result, in the last phase of the first half.

When they stepped on the gas

When they stepped on the gas, Arsenal let Villa see ... their dust! In the 48th minute, in their favorite way. From a corner kick, Arteta's team took the lead through the Brazilian stopper, Gabriel. Just four minutes later and before the Villans could recover, the international midfielder, Martin Zubimendi, "pinched" the ball beautifully after the vertical of the Norwegian midfielder, Odegaard, beating goalkeeper Martinez again. The baton was taken by the two-sided Belgian striker, Lucas Trossard, who with a strong one-piece shot into the Argentine's closed corner raised the score to 3-0. The "icing on the... celebratory cake" was added by Jesus in the 78th second after entering the match.

All that the... stunned Villa managed was to reduce the deficit with Watkins in injury time. End to the unbeaten streak of Emery's team, which remained at 39 points, firmly in 3rd place.