Published: 5 October, 2015
by TOM FOOT at the Emirates Stadium

Premier League
ARSENAL 3, MAN UNITED 0

SWASHBUCKLING Alexis Sanchez ripped apart Manchester United to send Arsenal second and back into contention for the Premier League title.

After his hat-trick against Leicester City last Saturday, Sanchez scored a clever near-post flick and a swirling top-corner net-buster in a stunning first-half brace.

It was a trademark bustling performance from the Chilean who was later substituted clutching his groin.

Slick pass-master Mesut Ozil also scored in a first-half onslaught that – with thanks to a strong second-half performance from Petr Cech – effectively ended the match.

“To win in a big game is always a statement,” Gunners boss Arsene Wenger said. “We are two points off the leaders. We are in it. I hope it will give us belief and ambition.”

“Overall, it was a convincing performance and a strong and united response to Tuesday night. Everybody was good today.”

He added that Sanchez’s“little groin problem” would not prevent him travelling to South America to play against Brazil and Peru in World Cup qualifiers next week, and that he was “praying that everyone comes back without any injury”.

Wenger ordered his side to sit back in the second half and United notched 62 per cent possession after the full 90 minutes – a surprising statistic in what felt like a very one-sided win for the Gunners. That was down to calm and collected Petr Cech who made four important stops and prevented United from finding that glimmer of hope to set the nerves jangling.

Anthony Martial looked certain to score when clean through on goal and a Wayne Rooney curler was confidently palmed past the post. In the first half, David De Gea did not even get close to Arsenal’s first three goals.

Sanchez's opener on six minutes was a five-a-side dream finish, hooking his left leg over over a low, drilled cross from Ozil and flicking in with his trailing right foot.

One minute later Walcott burst into the box and cut back to Ozil, who passed confidently into the bottom corner. On 19 minutes Sanchez showed great close control to link past the hapless right-back Matteo Darmian and Chris Smalling, before powering past de Gea into the top right-hand corner from the edge of the box.

Walcott grabbed two assists and, at one point on this balmy Indian summer Sunday afternoon, managed to outmuscle the towering Bastian Schweinsteiger and set up an attack.

After the match, United boss Louis Van Gaal said: “The problems started in the midfield. Cazorla and Ozil had too much time and space, and they had the quality to profit from it.”

Speaking straight after the news of Brendan Rodgers' sacking filtered through, Wenger said: "I’m always sad to hear this. He was certainly the closest of all the [Liverpool] managers to win the Premier League, but that is how it goes. I wish him good luck.”

ARSENAL: Cech, Bellerin, Gabriel, Mertesacker, Monreal, Coquelin, Ramsey, Cazorla, Ozil (75), Alexis (Gibbs, 81), Walcott (Giroud, 75)
Subs not used: Chambers, Campbell, Debuchy, Ospina.
Att: 60,084