Arsenal make title statement with big win over Villa as Man United suffer yet another embarrassment

Arsenal managed to halt Aston Villa’s incredible winning streak—and did so in brutal fashion- putting four goals past their opponents to extend their lead over Manchester City.

On the other side, Ruben Amorim’s team played out a draw against Wolverhampton, a side that is already firmly eyeing the championship.

At the Emirates, the hosts were the first to threaten in the seventh minute.

Arsenal broke down the left flank, and the ball eventually found Gyokeres, who attempted a header from a promising position, only to send it over the crossbar.

Aston Villa responded quickly and came close to taking the lead six minutes later.

Konsa read the play well, stepped in to win the ball during an Arsenal attack, and released Ollie Watkins.

Still, the Villa striker wasted a golden opportunity, miscuing his effort and firing wide.

Watkins was again in the spotlight in the 18th minute as Villa continued to look dangerous on the counter.

Exploiting space in transition, the visitors created another clear opening, yet once more Watkins failed to hit the target, dragging his shot past the post.

Arsenal attempted to regain control and create opportunities through the wide areas.

Leandro Trossard tested Emiliano Martinez in the 23rd minute after cutting in from the left and unleashing a firm effort, but the Villa goalkeeper was well-positioned and gathered the ball comfortably.

The best chance of the half fell to Arsenal late on. In the 36th minute, Trossard delivered an inviting cross from the left, and Gyokeres rose to meet it, but his header drifted narrowly wide of Martinez’s goal.

Arsenal completely took control after the break and turned a tight contest into a commanding victory with a ruthless second-half display against Aston Villa.

The breakthrough came just three minutes into the second half.

Bukayo Saka’s corner caused chaos in the Villa box, and Gabriel rose highest to bundle the ball over the line.

The goal was briefly surrounded by controversy due to the positioning of Arsenal players around Emiliano Martinez, but after checks it was confirmed to be legal, with the Villa goalkeeper bearing much of the responsibility for conceding.

Villa barely had time to regroup before Arsenal struck again.

In the 52nd minute, Mikel Arteta’s side doubled their lead with a superbly executed move.

High pressing won the ball back in the opposition half, Martin Odegaard threaded a perfectly weighted pass through to Martin Zubimendi, and the Spaniard calmly slotted past Martinez to ignite the Emirates.

Arsenal continued to pour forward. Jurrien Timber missed a huge chance on the hour mark when a loose ball from a corner dropped to him inside the six-yard box, but he somehow lifted his effort over the crossbar.

Moments later, Odegaard showed his hunger after returning from injury, unleashing a powerful strike from around 20 meters that flew just over Martinez’s goal.

The third goal arrived in the 69th minute and was worth the wait.

After a scramble in the Villa penalty area, the ball fell invitingly to Leandro Trossard, who struck first time and found the net.

A lengthy VAR review followed, but no infringement was found, and the goal stood, making it 3–0.

Arsenal were not done. In the 78th minute, they capped off a dominant half with a fourth.

A flowing move that started deep in defense ended with Gabriel Jesus receiving the ball on the edge of the area and firing a superb finish past Martinez, underlining just how sharp Arteta’s side looked.

To ease the situation on the pitch and on the scoreboard, Ollie Watkins managed to score after a poor reaction from the Arsenal defense.

Malen broke through down the flank, the ball rebounded off the post and fell to Watkins, who simply had to tap it into the net.

Manchester United - Wolverhampton 1-1 (1-1)

Meanwhile, Manchester United started brightly and almost caught Wolves out as early as the fourth minute.

Luke Shaw’s in-swinging corner drifted dangerously towards the far corner, forcing Jose Sa into a sharp reflex save to tip the ball away, having looked momentarily surprised by the trajectory.

Wolves had a brief VAR scare soon after when Matheus Cunha’s free-kick struck Arias in the wall, but the check quickly confirmed there was no penalty, with the defender’s arm tucked in.

The hosts continued to look threatening and went close midway through the half when Sesko showed great strength down the byline before cutting inside and firing just wide, keeping Matt Doherty at bay in the process.

Wolves responded through Hwang, whose effort from the edge of the area flew over the crossbar.

United’s pressure finally paid off in the 27th minute.

It was not the prettiest of goals, but it counted. Heaven won possession high up the pitch and drove forward before laying the ball off to Zirkzee, whose shot from outside the box took a deflection and looped past the helpless Sa.

Chances continued to arrive. Sesko headed straight at the Wolves keeper from Dorgu’s cross.

Moments later, Dorgu himself went close with a strike from a tight angle that flashed just wide, with Shaw’s overlapping run having created the space.

United came agonizingly close to doubling their lead when Sesko met another Shaw corner, his powerful header crashing against the post.

Wolves refused to sit back and nearly found an equaliser before the break.

Arokodare headed over from a good position, visibly frustrated, before Lammens was called into action twice in quick succession — first sticking out a leg to deny Bueno from an angle, then comfortably dealing with a long-range effort.

The equaliser arrived right on halftime and felt inevitable.

United failed to clear a corner, with Zirkzee flicking the ball on at the near post.

The loose ball found Krejci at the back post, and the defender made no mistake, powering a header into the corner beyond Lammens to send the sides in level at the interval.

The second half at Old Trafford lacked the intensity of the opening period but still delivered moments of danger, particularly from Wolverhampton, as both sides searched for a decisive goal.

Wolves showed early intent after the restart. In the 51st minute, Matheus Cunha tried his luck with a first-time volley from the edge of the box after Diogo Dalot had inadvertently headed the ball into his path from a Ugarte delivery.

The effort, however, flew over the bar, with Manchester United still struggling to raise their tempo.

United’s best opportunity of the half came shortly after.

Casemiro played an excellent pass to release Sesko behind the Wolves' defense, beating the offside line with ease.

With time and space on his side, the forward should have done better, but his header lacked power and direction, allowing Wolves to escape unpunished.

As the half progressed, the visitors began to look increasingly threatening.

The key moment arrived in the 64th minute when Wolves came agonizingly close to taking the lead.

Krejci’s strike forced Lammens into a superb reflex save, and the United goalkeeper was alert once again to deny the follow-up effort on the rebound, keeping his team level.

Late on, Wolves continued to press.

In the 80th minute, Arias went within inches of breaking the deadlock, his shot taking a slight deflection that may have been enough to prevent it from sneaking inside the post.

Manchester United fans hoped their suffering was over when Patrick Dorgu scored in the 90th minute, but the goal was later ruled out for offside.

PREMIER LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 19

Tuesday

Burnley - Newcastle 1-3 (1-2)

/Laurent 23 - Joelinton 2, Wissa 7, Guimaraes 90+3/

Chelsea - Bournemouth 2-2 (2-2)

/Palmer 15 pen, Fernandez 23 - Brooks 6, Kluivert 27/

Nott. Forest - Everton 0-2 (0-1)

/Garner 19, Barry 79/

West Ham - Brighton 2-2 (2-1)

/Bowen 10, Paqueta 45+4 pen - Welbeck 32 pen, Veltman 61/

Arsenal - Aston Villa 4-1 (0-0)

/Gabriel 48, Zubimendi 52, Trossard 69, Jesus 78 - Watkins 90+4

Man. Utd - Wolverhampton 1-1 (1-1)

/Zirkzee 27 - Krejci 45/

Thursday

20.30: (2.25) Crystal Palace (3.35) Fulham (3.25)

20.30: (1.53) Liverpool (4.20) Leeds (6.25)

23.00: (2.35) Brentford (3.40) Tottenham (3.00)

23.00: (7.25) Sunderland (4.40) Man.City (1.45)

***odds are subject to change***