Firepower

Another week down in this season; two games, a dose of revenge, a slice of redemption, and the lead at the top stretched once again.

Arsenal 4–1 Aston Villa: Revenge

Villa at home felt massive in the context of the season so far. You could sense it in the atmosphere around the ground before kick-off. The only cloud over the day was the news that Rice would miss out after a knock to the knee in the Brighton game. My concern was whether we’d be able to match Villa’s physicality and pace in midfield, especially with someone like Onana in there.

We actually settled well, dominating the ball while Villa dropped into a compact shape primed for counter-attacks. We pressed high and committed bodies forward. What stood out was how often Merino, filling in for Rice, pushed up alongside Gyökeres, leaving space in midfield. Villa exploited that early, bypassing our press and breaking with threat. Watkins missed a gilt‑edged chance, and Hincapié did brilliantly to deny Sancho on another. But when you’ve got Saliba and Gabriel behind you, you can take a few more risks. They were outstanding again, Saliba especially, never flustered, never panicked, even in one on one defending.

The first half was frustrating. Villa took every opportunity to slow the game down; players going down, long delays over throw‑ins and goal kicks. The referee didn’t help either — only three minutes added on was laughable.

At halftime I checked the stats to make sure it wasn’t just home‑fan bias, the ball had been in play for just 24 minutes. We created a couple of half chances, Gyökeres with two difficult headers, but nothing that really troubled Martínez.

I felt we needed an early second‑half goal to open the game up — and we got exactly that. Gabriel, back in the side and causing chaos in the box as he has for years now, found the ball magnetically drawn to him again from a set piece. Martínez seemed more interested in pushing Gabriel than judging the flight, and the ball eventually rolled off Gabi’s shin and in. Villa complained, VAR sucked the life out of the moment as usual, but 1–0 and deserved.

From there we stayed energised and on the front foot. Ødegaard, fresh off scoring against Brighton, looked back to his best. The second goal summed up everything he brings; relentless pressing, elite anticipation, and perfect execution. He robbed Sancho, drove centrally with options either side, and Zubimendi — reading the moment brilliantly — darted into the box. The pass was inch‑perfect, the finish a toe‑poke past Martínez. Two‑nil inside ten minutes of the restart. Just reward after all the first‑half time‑wasting.

The third came with around twenty minutes left. Trossard — one of the best January signings this club has ever made — fired a low drive into the bottom corner. The move stayed alive after a sweeping Ødegaard ball, a messy bounce off Digne’s knee, and some clever feet from Timber before Leo finished with trademark conviction.

Then came the fourth. Jesus came on, took two touches, and bang. What a finish. As the ball rolled to him I remember thinking he’d look for one more pass, especially with Saka to his left. Instead he opened his body and curled it in, Thierry‑like. A clean sheet would’ve been nice, but Watkins’ late goal was the only blemish; especially after Raya’s unbelievable save moments earlier to deny McGinn.

A comprehensive win against a title rival, and another reminder that when this team clicks and has its best players available, we’re incredibly hard to match over ninety minutes. Shades of the Atlético and Bayern performances: cagey first half, quality shining through in the end.

Revenge complete.

Bournemouth 2–3 Arsenal: Redemption

Saturday night at Bournemouth offered the chance to restore a six‑point cushion over Villa and go seven clear before City played Chelsea.

There was rotation up front; Martinelli and Madueke flanking Gyökeres, with Saka and Trossard on the bench. The big boost was Rice returning to midfield, something that would prove crucial.

We started well, dominating the ball early, but Bournemouth pressed with real energy, using the smaller pitch to squeeze us as we tried to build. A mix of sloppy touches and their intensity caused problems, just like last season’s fixture where we gifted them a 2–0 win. And once again, we handed them something; Gabriel’s loose pass across his own box fell straight to Evanilson in acres of space. 1–0.

Thankfully, we responded quickly, behind for only six minutes. Madueke, who had already threatened with a similar run earlier, was instrumental. After recycling a corner, he picked up the ball, skipped past Semenyo with that tight control he has even at full pace, reached the byline and cut it back. Martinelli’s shot was blocked, the ball fell to Gabriel, and he smashed it in with venom.

Redemption delivered for our centre half.

The rest of the half followed the same pattern; Bournemouth pressing aggressively, us trying to regain control in spells. Ødegaard had one lovely passage of play with Rice and Zubimendi to settle things down, but no clear chances for a lead. So 1–1 at the break, and the key would be the firepower on our bench and the fact Bournemouth couldn’t keep that pressing intensity up for ninety minutes.

As soon as the second half began, Arsenal stepped up a gear. More composure, more triangles, more control. Bournemouth began to drop off. The second goal reflected that shift; Gyökeres finally found space in behind, Martinelli flicked a header on, and after some chaos in the box the ball rolled to Ødegaard, who laid it perfectly for Rice to stride onto and finish brilliantly.

With Liverpool midweek, Arteta rang the changes; Saka, Trossard and Jesus all came on to get minutes. The third arrived twenty minutes from time, Ødegaard again with the craft, Saka darting in behind, and a beautifully weighted pass for him to square to Rice, who swept in his second. His first league brace. Another composed finish.

A quick word on Rice, he’s getting even better. He controls tempo, speeds the game up or slows it down, dictates phases, and his partnership with Zubimendi is blossoming. If he adds regular edge‑of‑the‑box goals, especially in a title race where rivals have out‑and‑out strikers, it becomes a huge weapon.

Bournemouth pulled one back with fifteen minutes left from a great strike, but this Arsenal side is built differently now. There’s resilience, calmness, and a maturity in game management. We closed it out with a compact shape, forcing them wide and trusting Saliba and Gabriel to deal with deliveries, which they did superbly.

Merino came on for Ødegaard late on and was fantastic; keeping the ball, slowing the tempo, resetting attacks. His close control and ability to roll opponents helped us see the game out. By the end, it was Arsenal who looked the livelier side, Saka repeatedly released down the right.

A drama‑free finish, a 3–2 away win, and the lead at the top extended again.

After a hectic Christmas period, the squad finally gets a few days to recover before Arne Slot’s men visit the Emirates on Thursday. With January bringing four competitions to juggle, rotation will be essential — and the depth added in the summer will now be tested as we enter the crunch period of the season.

Have a great week — and COYG.