Sunday 13 December 2015 17:29, UK
Arsenal went top of the Premier League with a comfortable 2-0 win at Aston Villa on Sunday.
A penalty from Olivier Giroud and Aaron Ramsey secured the points - and handed bottom of the league Villa yet another defeat.
Here, we look at five talking points from the game...
What a difference eight days make
A poor November - packed with injuries to key men - had left Arsenal fourth in the Premier League and on the brink of exiting the Champions League at the group phase. But victories over Sunderland and Aston Villa, either side of a 3-0 triumph at Olympiakos has changed the complexion of Arsenal's status.
The Gunners capitalised on Manchester United's defeat at Bournemouth to take top spot in the Premier League on Sunday, ahead of Leicester City's Monday Night Football clash with Chelsea, and have reminded their rivals - at home and in Europe - they are ready to challenge for the biggest honours this term.
"We believe we have an opportunity. This is a busy part in the season, we have to maintain our focus and belief and get through this period. But we believe we can challenge for trophies," Aaron Ramsey told Sky Sports.
Ramsey central to Arsenal success
The Arsenal midfielder took home the man of the match prize from Villa Park. Injuries to Santi Cazorla and Francis Coquelin may have forced his return to a central role for Arsenal, but the Welshman is thriving at the heart of the Gunners' play.
Ramsey demonstrated his all-round game for Arsenal's second, winning back possession with a perfectly-timed tackle before instigating a counter-attack and then, 80 yards further up the pitch, slotting the ball into the net.
No player completed more passes (71), won more tackles (five), made more interceptions (two) or had more touches (98) than Ramsey.
Cech equals clean sheet record
"I don't believe that anyone still questions Petr Cech. He's an all-time great in goal and the record speaks for him."
Arsene Wenger was effusive with his praise for his goalkeeper. And he has every reason to be extremely satisfied with his sole piece of business in last summer's transfer window.
Cech - a £10m signing from Chelsea - recorded his seventh Premier League clean sheet for Arsenal on Sunday. In total, he has made 169 shutouts in England's top flight - matching David James' clean sheet record.
Significantly, Cech's tally has come in 223 fewer Premier League outings than the former England 'keeper. His opening day blunder at home to West Ham seems a long time ago.
Ozil, Arsenal's supplier
Another impressive performer for Arsenal on Sunday was Mesut Ozil. The German put Arsenal's second on a plate for Ramsey - his 13th assist in the Premier League this season. To put that in perspective, no other player has more than seven.
Ozil has now created 50 chances from open play this season - more than any other Premier League player - and he also tops the list of most clear-cut chances created (16), according to Opta.
"I must say Mesut is an absolute complete, collective player," Wenger told Sky Sports after the game. "Sometimes he's frustrated that he doesn't get the same balls back but he's a very important link in our game."
Aston Villa attitude questioned
While the positives continue to add up for Arsenal, things continue to go from bad to worse for Aston Villa.
They haven't won a Premier League game since the opening day on August 8. That's 15 outings without success - the joint-longest run in English football this season and the longest streak in the club's history.
They are stranded at the bottom of the Premier League, six points from second-bottom Sunderland, with the worst goal difference in the league.
But more worrying for Villa fans, beyond the bare statistics, would be the attitude demonstrated by their players in the first-half against Arsenal.
Carlos Sanchez and Jordan Veretout drew particular criticism from Sky Sports' pundits for failing to track back for the second goal. New boss Remi Garde has "major problems", says Graeme Souness.
"Before the game we were talking about big, strong personalities, wanting to take responsibility, to be the one to make the difference on the day," said Souness. "[The defending for the second goal] is a classic example for me of players not wanting to be responsible for anything that goes wrong. Not making a decision.
"You get a lift when a new manager goes in, everyone's fighting to impress him. Did we see that today? I don't think so."
