Three things we learned from Arsenal win as welcome Gabriel return softens Declan Rice injury blow | OneFootball

Some worries eased, but some remain for the Gunners

It gave this fixture a big-match feel and Arsenal used the stage to turn on the style with a 4-1 win.

Gabriel opened the scoring, before Martin Zubimendi, Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Jesus netted for a rampant Gunners side. Ollie Watkins' stoppage-time consolation did nothing to dampen the mood.

By that point, a very clear message had already been sent to Manchester City and any others with title ambitions.

Rampant Arsenal make major statement

After weeks of nerves, of narrow leads being defended and almost unbearable tension, Arsenal found their release.

There was little sign of it coming in the first half, a goalless 45 minutes in which almost that amount could have been added on, so clear were Villa's efforts to slow things down and frustrate.

After the break, Arsenal ran riot. This was surely their best half of the season and one that serves as a major statement in the title race.

The Gunners scored four and it could have been five or six, so rampant were the hosts. Villa were suffocated, with the ball regularly turned over in their half, and the likes of Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard could have added further gloss to the scoreline.

Arsenal celebrate Gabriel Jesus scoring the team’s fourth goal

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Arsenal were a huge threat from set-pieces and should have scored two or three from corners in the second-half alone.

The result puts six points between Arsenal and Villa and gives the Gunners a five-point advantage over Manchester City, who have a trip to Sunderland that suddenly looks a bit more difficult.

In what was billed as one of their toughest tests of the season, Arsenal showed why they are worthy title favourites.

Rice void clear to see

The news ahead of kick-off that Declan Rice had been ruled out with a knee injury was a major blow for Arsenal.

When a player as influential as Rice is out there is an obvious danger of falling into confirmation bias, assuming any faults are down to their absence.

Here, though, it was abundantly clear how much Arsenal were missing the midfielder. And very quickly.

The Gunners had a ten-minute spell early in the match where they looked astonishingly open on the counter. More than once, Amadou Onana had about 50 yards of space to stride forward into.

Amadou Onana (R) was a commanding presence in Aston Villa’s midfield before being forced off at half-time

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Only poor finishing from Watkins and some last-ditch defending, including a key clearance from Piero Hincapie, prevented Villa taking the lead.

There was a distinct lack of running in the Arsenal midfield in the first half. It is hard to imagine that being the case had Rice been on the pitch.

Arsenal's warrior makes timely return

For the first time since the draw with Sunderland in early November, Arsenal had Gabriel lining up at centre-back alongside William Saliba.

The Brazilian had some shaky moments early on, following Morgan Rogers right up the pitch and leaving plenty of space behind him as Villa played through the press.

In the second half, Gabriel showed exactly what Arsenal have been missing in recent weeks.

He opened the scoring from a corner, proving too strong for Emi Martinez and bundling the ball into the net from close range.

At the other end of the pitch, Gabriel was a warrior. He was so brave in stooping to head away as Youri Tielemans came in to volley, taking a blow to the head but quickly getting to his feet.

Gabriel then headed away Rogers' shot, turning to the crowd and roaring with as much passion as when he scored.

It was no surprise that he went down with what appeared to be cramp late on and had to be replaced. Arsenal's brick wall is back.