Arsenal 4-1 Aston Villa: Post-match review, Stats, Key moments

Dive into Ladbrokes’ post-match review of Arsenal 4-1 Aston Villa in the Premier League on Tuesday, 30 December 2025, with stats, key moments and our take on the match.

Arsenal beat Aston Villa 4-1 in the Premier League. The first half ended goalless, but tensions rose with yellow cards for Arsenal’s Mikel Merino in the 45+1st minute and Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers a minute later. Arsenal’s recent form of three straight wins showed in their second-half dominance, building on victories over Brighton, Everton and Wolves after an earlier loss to Villa.

The breakthrough came early in the second half when Gabriel Magalhães scored in the 48th minute, followed quickly by Martín Zubimendi in the 52nd. Leandro Trossard added a third in the 69th, and substitute Gabriel Jesus netted the fourth in the 78th after coming on. Aston Villa, who had been on a four-game winning streak including a prior win over Arsenal, pulled one back through Ollie Watkins in the 90+4th minute, but it was too late to change the outcome.

Aston Villa edged possession with 54% compared to Arsenal’s 46%, suggesting they controlled more of the ball but failed to convert it into meaningful threats. Both sides were evenly matched in corners at three each and successful dribbles, with Arsenal slightly ahead at 56 to 53, pointing to a game where neither team dominated territorially but Arsenal were more clinical in attack, recording three assists to Villa’s zero.

Discipline saw Arsenal pick up two yellow cards while Villa had three, with no reds on either side, and both teams used all five substitutions, including Arsenal’s impactful changes like Gabriel Jesus coming on to score. There were no penalties or injury-time goals beyond Villa’s late consolation, underlining Arsenal’s efficiency in open play.

The match turned decisively in Arsenal’s favour early in the second half, with Gabriel Magalhães opening the scoring in the 48th minute and Martín Zubimendi adding another in the 52nd, assisted by Martin Ødegaard. Leandro Trossard extended the lead to 3-0 in the 69th, assisted by Jurriën Timber, though a VAR check followed shortly after in the 72nd without changing the score. Gabriel Jesus, who replaced Viktor Gyökeres in the 77th, scored the fourth in the 78th with an assist from Trossard, before picking up a yellow card a minute later.

Aston Villa’s substitutions, like John McGinn replacing Amadou Onana at half-time and later changes including Donyell Malen for Jadon Sancho in the 61st, failed to shift momentum. Their late push yielded Ollie Watkins’ goal in the 90+4th, but yellow cards for Lamare Bogarde in the 81st and Watkins in the 90+7th highlighted frustration, while Arsenal’s bench moves, such as Christian Nørgaard for Mikel Merino in the 73rd, helped maintain control.

Arsenal lined up in a 4-3-3 formation, with Martín Zubimendi anchoring the midfield and contributing a goal, while Leandro Trossard shone on the wing with his scoring and assisting. Gabriel Magalhães provided defensive solidity before his substitution, partnering effectively at the back, and Bukayo Saka’s runs created space until he was replaced late on. The setup allowed for quick transitions, evident in assists from Martin Ødegaard and Jurriën Timber.

Aston Villa deployed a 4-2-3-1 shape, relying on Ollie Watkins as the focal point up front who grabbed a late goal, supported by creative outlets like Morgan Rogers before his substitution. Youri Tielemans held the midfield until being replaced, while early changes like John McGinn for Amadou Onana aimed to add energy. The formation focused on possession, but defensive lapses allowed Arsenal to exploit gaps.

Leandro Trossard earned Ladbrokes’ Man of the Match award for his standout performance, scoring one goal and providing one assist while creating a big chance and delivering three key passes. His involvement in the third and fourth goals highlighted his influence on the left flank, turning the game with sharp decision-making and precise execution. Trossard’s display was pivotal in Arsenal’s second-half surge, making him the clear difference-maker.

Recent Premier League matches:

• Win: 4-1 vs Aston Villa (H)
• Win: 2-1 vs Brighton & Hove Albion (H)
• Win: 1-0 vs Everton (A)
• Win: 2-1 vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H)
• Loss: 1-2 vs Aston Villa (A)

Recent Premier League matches:

• Loss: 1-4 vs Arsenal (A)
• Win: 2-1 vs Chelsea (A)
• Win: 2-1 vs Manchester United (H)
• Win: 3-2 vs West Ham United (A)
• Win: 2-1 vs Arsenal (H)

Arsenal have just secured a 4-1 win over Aston Villa, extending their strong run of four consecutive league victories to sit top of the table on 45 points. They next face AFC Bournemouth on 2026-01-03 at 17:30, with the opposition currently 15th on 23 points and struggling for consistency. This match offers Arsenal a chance to maintain their lead at the summit, building on recent successes against sides like Brighton and Everton to keep the pressure on title rivals.

Aston Villa have just suffered a 4-1 defeat to Arsenal, halting a four-game winning streak that included triumphs over Chelsea, Manchester United and West Ham. Sitting third on 39 points, they host Nottingham Forest on 2026-01-03 at 12:30, with the visitors languishing in 17th on 18 points and battling relegation concerns. A positive result here could help Villa close the gap on the leaders and regain momentum in their push for Champions League spots.

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Odds and market details are accurate as of the time of publication.