Premier League title race: Can Arsenal go all the way this time?

It seemed that Arsenal were beginning to waver.

After starting December with a defeat to Aston Villa, they were far from convincing as they beat Wolves, Everton and Brighton by narrow margins.

But the Gunners got some vital results and answered any lingering doubts about their title qualification with an emphatic 4-1 home win over Villa on Tuesday.

It not only kept Unai Emery’s in-form side in third place at bay, but also served as a powerful statement to any team hoping to derail their trophy ambitions.

Arsenal head into 2026 and the second half of the campaign, top of the league – five points clear of second-placed Manchester City, with Villa a further point behind.

“Arsenal doing what they did at Villa tells you where they are,” former Aston Villa striker Dion Dublin told BBC Radio 5 Live.

“Everything is going well for them because everyone contributes: the manager, the players, the staff.”

Speaking on Match of the Day, former England midfielder Danny Murphy added: “Arsenal’s performance was a big statement. It was powerful, full of quality and showed strength in depth.”

But, with a history of letting the title slip away after three successive finalists, can Arsenal finally make it count this season and be champions for the first time since 2004?