London, December 30. Arsenal defeated Aston Villa 4-1 in a match for the 19th round of the English Premier League, held today at the Emirates Stadium. According to the Argentine News Agency, for the home team, defender Gabriel Magalhães, midfielder Martín Zubimendi, and forwards Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Jesus scored. The away team's consolation goal was scored by striker Ollie Watkins. With this win, the team led by Spanish coach Mikel Arteta remains in first place with 45 points, while the 'Villans' could not extend their 11-game winning streak and are now in third place with 39 points. In a goalless first half, the visitors had the most dangerous chance in the 12th minute with a first-time shot from Watkins from inside the area that went wide of the far post. Arsenal opened the scoring in the second minute of the second half with a cross to the near post that set up Gabriel, who beat 'Dibu' in the air. The goalkeeper claimed a foul, but the goal was given to make it 1-0. Four minutes later, Norwegian midfielder Martin Ødegaard broke through the opposition's defense with a great through-ball that left Zubimendi one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Zubimendi opened his right foot and scored the second goal of the night with a low shot. In the 23rd minute, Trossard received the ball on the edge of the area and shot quickly, surprising the Argentine goalkeeper and placing the ball against his left post. The fourth goal came in the 32nd minute from a counterattack that set up Brazilian Gabriel Jesus, who put in a good shot with his right foot, entering at mid-height past the 'Dibu's' left post, who could not deflect it. Aston Villa did not have more chances until the first minute of stoppage time, when Watkins's shot hit the post and midfielder John McGinn could not convert the rebound, although two minutes later the English striker himself would push in a cross in the small area to score the final consolation goal.
