Arsenal v Aston Villa live: Gunners score four in statement thrashing of Premier League title rivals

And pressure on Maresca too as Chelsea draw again...

Chelsea’s poor Premier League form continued as they were held to a frustrating 2-2 draw by Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge, extending their dismal run to just one victory in seven matches.

All four goals arrived in a chaotic first half, with David Brooks putting the visitors ahead early on.

Cole Palmer swiftly equalised from the penalty spot, and Enzo Fernandez then put Chelsea in front.

However, their lead proved short-lived as Justin Kluivert restored parity for Bournemouth before the interval.

A report from Richard Jolly on one of the other big games of the day...

One last indignity in 2025. A year of many a low ended in familiar fashion. Just when Manchester United seemed to have taken a step forward, they contrived to take two back. Up against what could prove statistically the worst team in Premier League history, United were the inferior side for swathes of the game. Just Wolves’ third point of the season came at Old Trafford. Arriving on an 11-match losing run, they may depart with regrets they did not record their first victory of a miserable season.

For United, now with a lone win in their last five home games, it was both the result and the manner of it that jarred. Their goal involved a hefty deflection. The closest they came to a legitimate winner was when Yerson Mosquera almost delivered a comical own goal. Not for the first time, Ruben Amorim’s tactics failed.

Here was Arteta’s response when asked whether 2026 will be his team's year:

“Well, it has been a great 2025 on a personal and professional level. The way these guys, the club and the staff make me enjoy my work every single day is brilliant. In 2026, we know what we want. We will have to work really hard for it every single day, but I think we are on the right tracks for it.”

"It is a beautiful evening,” says Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta on Sky.

“That was a very tough match, as we knew it would be, because they are a top opponent to play against. The first 10 minutes were a bit shaky and we had to adjust things, but credit to them because they managed to break our press twice and were able to run which they are very dangerous at. After that, we grabbed the game and we were creating the chances. The way we started the second half was amazing, we really turned things up and were efficient in everything that we did. We had to be really meticulous and understand the timing at which we were doing everything. It's a big credit to my players because against this team it isn't easy.

"We have created a lot of chances in the last few weeks but we saw the difference today. We needed scrappy goals to win other games but today the quality of our finishing was top and made the difference."

On Gabriel's importance, he explains: "We saw it today. He came back after six weeks out, which should've probably been eight weeks out but he came back earlier. He composed himself against probably one of the best strikers in the league, who is very hard to mark. I thought he was tremendous."

On Villa’s 11-game winning run ending, Emery says: “Football is now. Football is now, how we are now. Everything we did was fantastic. More or less we are getting our way, we could expect a better way maybe because we are third in the league and Europa League very good, but try to analyse today and the players we have.”

On why he went down the tunnel quickly, he adds: “No, when I finish the match I am always waiting to shake hands with another coach but he was with the coaches and I can’t wait for him. Of course, I was there but no problem. I went to my dressing room.”

Villa boss Unai Emery says he is “so, so happy with the players and of course we must analyse this match, but overall we are getting the day 19 with the points we have and the week we did”.

"Today we did very good first half, different to the match against Chelsea and of course we were competing well and even getting our momentum and creating chances,” he explained to BBC Match of the Day.

“We did not concede a lot, no corners in the first half for them. But the second half the first goal changed everything and after it they pushed it. And we had as well the injury of Amadou Onana and we lost everything in the middle and they have the power they showed. And we finished losing. Now with the players, my analysis is after the match how we did here 90 minutes but overall the most important is try to understand overall how we are.

"The first goal, how they score it maybe could be foul but her in England it is more difficult because the referees they let to touch the keepers and it is difficult but we must accept because it's both sides,” he added.

"It got difficult because they are such a good team,” says Villa’s Morgan Rogers speaking after full-time.

“They are where they are in the league for a reason. They are relentless and they just keep going. I thought we were really good in the first half, we were really proud of how we played. On another day we might've created one more clear-cut chance to maybe go in front, but they were really solid and really good.

“In the second half, they just kept the pressure on and it's really tough to come to a place like this. We knew we would have to ride our luck but they were just too clinical - sometimes that happens.

"Nothing really changed on either side in the second half, but once you get that opening goal then the momentum comes with it. When you're 1-0 up then you get more confidence and play more freely, that's definitely what happened for them. When the goals started coming thick and fast, you knew it was done.

"It's nothing bad to lose 4-1 to the best team in the league at the moment. We just have to dust ourselves down and be proud of the winning run we've been on."

"The better team won today, so there can be no arguments."

This is what man of the match Gabriel had to say:

"It was a difficult day for me. I'm so happy to be back. I think today was a brilliant day for everyone, with how we worked together. Now we need to keep going,” he explained.

"It's very difficult to play against them - they tried to delay the game, but the second half we kept going and we were amazing after the first goal.” he added.

Both Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel spoke to Sky after the game. This is what Jesus had to say:

"It was amazing. I's always hard to play against them. They come here at all times and try to hurt us,” he explained.

“At the start you could see they were trying to delay the game. But we won tonight because of the mentality."

On the return of Gabriel, he adds: “I said after the last game that you could see the difference the moment he stepped on the pitch. This guy loves to defend the way I love to attack. And he loves to score goals as well!”