Paul Merson believes Arsenal will go on to win the Premier League simply after they blew in-form Aston Villa away with a “statement” 4-1 win on the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners, who have been with out the injured Declan Rice, scored 4 instances in a rampant second-half show to finish Premier League title rivals Villa’s club-equalling 11-match successful streak.
“It felt like more than three points, psychologically,” mentioned Sky Sports activities’ Jamie Carragher.
Victory noticed the Gunners transfer 5 factors away from Man Metropolis, who journey to Sunderland on New 12 months’s Day, reside on Sky Sports activities (kick-off 8pm), and Merson believes Pep Guardiola’s facet may have stood up and brought discover after Mikel Arteta’s males dismantled Villa.
“It was an outstanding 30 minutes from Arsenal in the second half,” Merson mentioned on Soccer Particular. “They suffocated Aston Villa and made them look fairly common in the long run.
“It is a huge end result for Arsenal.
“There have been a couple of results where they have just fallen over the line against Wolves and Brighton. They were tight games but up against the most in-form team in country, if not Europe, and Arsenal have dismantled them.”
He added: “With the lead having been two points a draw against Villa and a Man City win on New Year’s Day, Pep Guardiola’s side would go top. But now, they have a five-point lead, and they have three extra goals because goal difference will be important with it being so tight.
“Taking a look at Arsenal, with the away fixtures they’ve already performed and this end result towards Villa, I do not know who will cease them. They play all the large groups other than Man Metropolis at residence and enjoying like that, it is exhausting to see them being stopped.
“I think they win the Premier League quite easily.
“It was an announcement end result and Man Metropolis may have been watching. They are going to be considering wow after that from Arsenal.”
Jesus: We received due to mentality
Arsenal’s Gabriel Jesus celebrates scoring their facet’s fourth purpose
After a goalless first half, the house facet have been forward inside three minutes of the second interval when Emiliano Martinez flapped at Bukayo Saka’s nook and the ball rolled in off Gabriel’s thigh.
Arsenal doubled their benefit on 52 minutes after Martin Zubimendi transformed Martin Odegaard’s beautiful defence-splitting go, with Leandro Trossard scoring from lengthy vary after 69 minutes to place the sport firmly out of Villa’s attain.
Gabriel Jesus then netted his first purpose since New 12 months’s Day simply moments after approaching in its place earlier than Ollie Watkins scored a comfort for the guests in damage time.
The spectacular victory was the right tonic for Mikel Arteta’s gamers towards a crew that dealt them a stoppage-time 2-1 defeat at Villa Park simply 24 days in the past.
“It was amazing,” Jesus instructed Sky Sports activities.
“It’s always hard to play against Villa. They come here at all times and try to hurt us.
“In the beginning you may see they have been attempting to delay the sport. However we received due to the mentality.”
