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We again host at The Emirates, and our opposition this time, is Aston Villa. The Villains have eleven straight wins, in all competitions. They’ve equalled a club record, that was set back in 1897, and again, in 1914.

It’s not going to be easy to win this game, but no games in the Premier League, are easy to win.

We suffered a narrow defeat to The Villains, at Villa Park. An injury time, last minute winner, got them the three points. It’s been well documented, that it was a close game, that could’ve gone either way.

The bitter taste of that defeat, still lingers on the tastebuds… and I’m sure that the Arsenal players will need little motivation, to be up for this match.

We want revenge. We want a good performance. We want ex-Arsenal boss Unai Emery’s return to the Emirates, to be a horrible one.

We want to end The Villains’ winning run, with villainous verve, of our own.

Aston Villa are on the back of a 2-1 win over Chelsea, and The Arsenal are on the back of a 2-1 win over Brighton.

Both teams will be confident, but only one team will make said confidence, count.

An intriguing matchup, that I feel… will live up to expectation.

As with past seasons, whenever The Villains hit a rich vein of form, comparisons are made between Unai Emery, and Mikel Arteta.

I find these comparisons comical, as Arteta can only be compared to other managers, who have only been managing for six years.

Any other comparisons, is an exercise riddled with futility, that I refuse to entertain.

The starting lineup, was David Raya in goal… Timber returned at right-back, Saliba and Gabriel, in central defence… and Hencapie started at left-back, as Calafiori’s still injured.

This was the first time, in a long time, that Saliba, and Gabriel, had started a game together, in central defence. The first choice centre-back pairing, gives the whole team a lift… and it enables the midfield to move forward more confidently, knowing that they have that wall behind them.

There was a slight change in midfield, as Rice was unavailable for selection, due to a knee injury he sustained, in the game against Brighton.

Mikel Merino replaced Rice, (If there is such a thing, because there’s no replacing Declan Rice) and Zubimendi, and Martin Odegaard, completed the midfield.

Up front, it was again Saka on the right, Gyokeres through the middle, and Trossard on the left.

The loss of Calafiori, AND, Rice, was a huge double blow… because Rice has been arguably, our player of the season so far, and Calafiori has been our best left-back.

I was of course, somewhat concerned… but we’ve been dealing with injuries to key players, for the whole season, and we’ve proved we’re good enough to beat ANY team, even without our best players.

The Villains were also missing some key players, due to the suspensions of their right-back Matty Cash, and midfielder, Boubacar Kamara.

It all evens up, I suppose.

A fast start was needed, and that’s exactly how the game began. The early attacks from us, showed that we were determined to exploit Villa’s right side, in the absence of Matty Cash, and the irrepressible Leandro Trossard, and the bulldozer, Hincapie, didn’t disappoint.

Hincapie put a great ball into the box, that Gyokeres unfortunately couldn’t convert… but we looked sharp, and we looked bright.

Ollie Watkins had a chance not long after, when Konsa stole the ball from Gyokeres, and put Watkins through on goal, but the Villa striker scuffed his shot wide.

It was a warning to The Gunners, that The Villains will not be shot down easily, and are more than capable of mounting a sustained period, of return fire.

Again, Arsenal were caught out, when an excellent first time ball over the top, from Youri Tielemans… found the in-form, Morgan Rogers… but some solid defending from Piero Hincapie, snuffed out the chance.

Another warning shot, and further proof that Aston Villa were in this game.

We responded in the right way, and a great cross from Trossard found the head of Gyokeres, but his diving header missed the target.

The Villains responded with another attack of their own. Sancho squared the ball to Watkins, and with Watkins in on goal, and about to shoot, William Saliba made a magnificent, last-ditch tackle, to keep the score at 0-0.

It was end-to-end stuff, and even though The Arsenal had a couple of scares, it suits us more when teams attack us, because we exploit the spaces, and dismantle teams, with our football.

The first half ended 0-0, with The Villains having the more clear cut chances. We needed to turn our chances into goals, in the second half… and preferably, EARLY in the second half!

We upped the tempo in the second half, and it looked like Arteta’s half-time team talk, did what it was supposed to do.

Arsenal earned a corner in the 48th minute, which was taken by the uncharacteristically quiet, Bukayo Saka. He put a deep cross in to Gabriel Magalhaes at the far post, that the calamitous Emiliano Martinez flapped at, and missed.

Big Gabby headed the ball home from close range! 1-0 to The Arsenal!! The fact that we’d taken the lead, as a result of a Martinez mistake, made it all the more sweeter.

The ex-Arsenal goalkeeper, who ALWAYS speaks negatively about Arsenal, who ALWAYS winds everyone up, and who had been timewasting from the opening minutes of the game… had helped us take the lead. HAHAHAHA!! It was juuuussst, beautiful.

Only four minutes later, in the 52nd minute, Martin Odegaard dispossessed Sancho in the midfield, looked up, spotted Zubimendi making a great run goalwards, and slid a glorious pass through to him. Zubimendi, with little space, and even less time, poked the ball past Martinez… showing great composure. 2-0 to The Arsenal!!… and our villainous verve, activated.

Aston Villa simply couldn’t cope with Martin Odegaard orchestrating the midfield, and the genius of Arsenal’s footballing symphony.

It was time to bring out the violins for The Villains, because in the 69^th minute… they struggled to clear the ball from the edge of their box, the ball fell to Timber, who layed it off to Trossard… and he thumped the ball in! No chance for Martinez, who didn’t even move… but could only stand and admire. HAHAHA!! 3-0 to The Arsenal!!!

With the fat lady singing beautifully, and now into her second song… Arteta made some substitutions.

In the 73^rd minute, Norgaard replaced Merino, and in the 77^th minute, Lewis-Skelly came on for Gabriel Magalhaes, and Jesus replaced Gyokeres.

Gabriel Jesus was only on the pitch for one minute, before making an impact.

Trossard made a great run down the left side, after some great work from Zubimendi.

Trossard squared the ball to Jesus, who controlled the ball nicely, and curled the ball home, from the edge of the box. A wonderful finish, and it was wonderful to see him back on the scoresheet, after his horrendous luck with injuries. 4-0 to The Arsenal!!

In the 83^rd minute, further changes were made.

Madueke came on for Saka, and Ben White, came on for Timber.

In the 94^th minute of injury time, due to some sloppy defending on our part… Donyell Malen wriggled his way to the byline, played a short pass to Watkins, and he tapped the ball in from close range, into an empty net. No clean sheet for us, and a consolation goal for them. 4-1 the scoreline… and that’s how the match ended.

A brilliant performance from Arsenal, especially in the second half.

We showed once again that we CAN win the “Big games”… contrary to the propaganda, that the mainstream media are spewing.

Scintillating performances from Odegaard, and Trossard, were the catalyst for this win, along with a commanding display from the back four… Saliba, and Gabriel, in particular.

Zubimendi was also a standout performer, and Gabriel Jesus looked razor sharp once again, and is almost back to his best.

We gave Aston Villa a vicious beating, ended their winning run, and brought them crashing back down to earth… and we did all this, without two of our best players, in Declan Rice, and Riccardo Calafiori.

We’re now five points clear of Mancheatster City, six points clear of Aston Villa, thirteen points clear of Liverpool, and fifteen points clear of Chelsea.

We’ve had an incredible first half of the season… but that’s just it, we’re only halfway there.

The Arsenal must keep pushing, keep persisting, keep getting results, hold our nerve, shut out the outside noise… and bring this league title home.

First thing’s first though, let’s win our next game… which is an away trip to Bournemouth.

It’s been a difficult game for us in recent seasons, and we need to put that right. Let’s take The Cherries, and make Cherryade.

Talk to me people… don’t be shy!!

Do you agree with my analysis of the game?

Are you confident we’ll bring the league title home?

Have the doubters, now been silenced?

Let me know in the comments!! Happy New Year to you all!! COYG!!