Mikel Arteta believes Arsenal’s emphatic victory over Aston Villa was the clearest indication yet that his side are ready to end their long wait for a Premier League title, after a ruthless 4-1 win at the Emirates Stadium sent a warning to their rivals.
The result carried extra significance for an Arsenal team that have fallen narrowly short in recent seasons. Runners-up for three consecutive campaigns, they have often been praised for style and promise but questioned over their capacity to deliver in defining moments. Against a Villa side who arrived on an 11-match winning run, Arteta’s players provided a compelling answer.
The contest had been finely balanced at the interval, with Villa enjoying spells of first-half control and failing to capitalise on early pressure. That wastefulness proved costly. Within minutes of the restart, Arsenal seized the initiative decisively, helped by a rare error from Emiliano Martinez. The Argentina goalkeeper failed to hold a corner, allowing Gabriel Magalhaes to force the ball home and tilt the momentum in the hosts’ favour.
What followed was a spell of authority that underlined Arsenal’s evolution.
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