Paul Merson believes Arsenal will easily win the Premier League after beating a lackluster Aston Villa side with a “statement” 4-1 win at the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners, without the injured Declan Rice, scored four goals in a rampant second half to end the club’s 11-match winning streak at Premier League title rivals Villa.
Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher said: “Psychologically it felt like we had gained more than three points.”
The win moved the Gunners five points clear of Manchester City, who travel to Sunderland on New Year’s Day. sky sports (8pm kick-off), Merson believes Pep Guardiola’s side will have stood up and taken notice after Mikel Arteta’s men dismantled Villa.
“The second 30 minutes against Arsenal were brilliant,” Merson said. soccer specials. “They suffocated Aston Villa and ended up making them look pretty ordinary.
“It’s a huge result for Arsenal.
“There were a few close results against Wolves and Brighton. They were tight games, but they were playing against the best team in form in the country, if not Europe, and Arsenal dismantled them.”
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WATCH FREE: Highlights of the match between Arsenal and Aston Villa in the Premier League.
He added: “Pep Guardiola’s side will go top after leading the way with a two-point draw against Villa and a win over Manchester City on New Year’s Day, but they are now five points clear and have secured three more goals as goal difference is very tight.
“If you look at Arsenal’s results away and against Villa, I don’t know who’s going to stop them. They play every big team at home except Man City and it’s hard to see them being stopped when they play like that.
“I think they will win the Premier League very easily.
“It was the result of a statement and Manchester City will be watching. They will be thinking wow from Arsenal.”
Jesus: We are victorious because of our spirit
Arsenal’s Gabriel Jesus celebrates scoring his team’s fourth goal
After a goalless first half, the home side took the lead three minutes into the second half when Emiliano Martinez flapped in Bukayo Saka’s corner and the ball rolled off Gabriel’s thigh.
Arsenal doubled their advantage after 52 minutes after Martin Zuvimendi converted Martin Odegaard’s superb defence-splitting pass, before Leandro Trossard netted a long-range goal after 69 minutes to put the game firmly out of Villa’s reach.
Gabriel Jesus scored his first goal since New Year’s Day just minutes after coming on as a substitute, while Ollie Watkins netted a consolation goal for the visitors in injury time.
The impressive win was the perfect tonic for Mikel Arteta’s men against a side they had lost 2-1 in extra-time at Villa Park just 24 days earlier.
“It was amazing,” Jesus told Sky Sports.
“It’s always difficult to play against Villa, they always come here and try to hurt us.
“At first you could see they were trying to delay the game, but we won because of our mentality.”
