Mikel Arteta, the manager of Arsenal, thinks his team is beginning to reap the rewards of their diligence as the Gunners lead the Premier League going into 2026.
After defeating championship rivals Aston Villa 4-1 at home yesterday, Arsenal is now five points ahead of second-place Manchester City, who travel to Sunderland on New Year’s Day, according to AFP.
When asked if this could be the season when Arsenal finally ends more than 20 years of title drought, Arteta praised his team’s “belief and energy.” Arsenal last won the Premier League in 2004.
“The schedule is extremely demanding, we play every two and a half days, and we have some really difficult matches and injuries, but the players are still winning, so winning helps all that,” he stated.
“We know there’s still a lot to play for, but it’s so satisfying when all the sacrifices and dedication you put in pay off in results and outstanding performances.”
“It’s definitely a fantastic way to end the year,” the Spaniard continued. On New Year’s Eve, we will enjoy a wonderful evening with our families. However, the following day, on Saturday, we must travel to Bournemouth, and we are aware of the consequences.
For the first time since a crushing north London derby triumph over Tottenham at the Emirates Stadium on November 23, Arsenal scored four goals in a match after close one-goal victories in their previous three league games against Wolverhampton, Everton, and Brighton.
Martin Zubimendi, who scored goals with Gabriel, Leandro Trossard, and Gabriel Jesus against Villa for an Arsenal team that dominated the second half, declared, “We needed this game.”
We wanted to finish the season at the top of the table, so we played at home against Aston Villa. They are a fantastic team, and their tactics are nearly flawless, so we’re really pleased with the performance.
We had some difficulty with the counterattacks in the first half. We made some movement adjustments at halftime, and once we scored the first and second goals in the second half, the game became quite open, and we were able to score four goals.
“We observed the crowd’s willingness, constantly pushing and demanding more.”
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