Alexis Sanchez at the double as Arsenal crush Hull

Alexis Sanchez scored twice as Arsenal maintained their push for a second-place finish with a 3-1 victory as Hull City's relegation fears deepened.

The Chile international continued his impressive first season in English football with another majestic display to take his tally to 24 goals in all competitions as Arsene Wenger's men pulled level with Manchester City on 70 points with a game still in hand.

Hull had come into the contest hoping to build upon back-to-back triumphs but saw their hopes dashed by a two-goal burst in five minutes from the Gunners, who were grateful for a pair of big deflections.

Sanchez got the first on 28 minutes, curling home a 20-yard free kick that wrong-footed Steve Harper when it took a wicked nick off Michael Dawson in the Tigers wall.

And it was a case of deja vu for the former Newcastle stopper soon after when Aaron Ramsey latched onto Santi Cazorla's delicious pass, turned inside and fired a deflected shot into the corner.

The hosts had their moments with Sone Aluko wasting a free header, but they were made to pay for their profligacy in first-half injury time when Ramsey split the hosts' defence to free Sanchez, who rounded Harper before slotting into an empty net.

Steve Bruce's men improved after the break and pulled one back when Stephen Quinn's downward header from Ahmed Elmohamady's cross found its way into the corner.

Arsenal continued to threaten with a swagger and verve that Hull struggled to live with but there was an air of complacency in their defending that could have seen the home side further reduce the arrears through Paul McShane.

At the other end the returning Jack Wilshere came off the bench and almost capped his cameo with a goal but he saw his shot cleared off the line.

The result means Hull drop a place to 17th spot, just one place and one point above Sunderland who have a game in hand, while Arsenal have all-but secured a Champions League place for next season.

PRE-MATCH: Steve Bruce names an unchanged side for Hull City after back-to-back wins reinvigorated their bid to beat the drop. Arsenal follow suit as Arsene Wenger sticks with the starting XI that kicked off their 0-0 draw with Chelsea.

13' - ARSENAL CHANCE! Good save. Harper gets down well to beat away Alexis Sanchez's bullet of a strike at his near post after the Chilean had danced in from the left, exchanged a one-two and tried his luck from 20 yards.

23' - HULL CHANCE! Sone Aluko rises to meet Brady's sumptuous left-wing cross but gets his free header so, so wrong. A Great opportunity goes begging for the hosts.

28' - GOAL! Hull 0-1 Arsenal. Sanchez gives Arsenal the lead with swerving free kick that takes a deflection off the head of Michael Dawson in the wall.

33' - GOAL! Hull 0-2 Arsenal. The Gunners double their lead. Cazorla rakes a ball down the middle for Ramsey who spins his man before firing another deflected shot beyond Harper.

45+1' - GOAL! Hull 0-3 Arsenal. It's three and it's game over. Another error in the Hull midfield allows Ramsey to pick out the run of Sanchez who rounds Harper before tucking into the empty net.

56' - GOAL! Hull 1-3 Arsenal. Hull pull one back as Stephen Quinn meets a right-wing cross with a downward header into the corner.

60' - HULL CHANCE! Ahmed Elmohamady whips another great ball in from the right for Paul McShane who thunders a bullet header just over the top.

85' - ARSENAL CHANCE! How did that not go in? Arsenal tear through Hull on the right. Bellerin overlaps and sees a cross-shot beaten away by Harper. Wilshere looks to tuck home the rebound but his shot is blocked by a desperate defender. Sanchez tries to steer in from a tight angle, but again Hull survive.

90+3' - ARSENAL CHANCE! Arsenal break... Sanchez weaves one way, then the other before dragging a poor shot wide from 15 yards out... No treble tonight.

Alexis Sanchez has scored in all three of his competitive appearances versus Hull City in 2014-15, netting four times.

Aaron Ramsey has had a hand in seven goals (three goals, four assists) in his last six Premier League appearances.

No player has assisted as many Premier League goals as Santi Cazorla (28) since he made his PL debut in August 2012.

Hull City have conceded more goals from outside the penalty area than any other team in the 2014-15 Premier League.

Arsenal have now scored 100 goals this season.

Aaron Ramsey has scored in each of his last three starts in all competitions against Hull City.

Only Chelsea (9) have scored more deflected goals than Arsenal in the Premier League this season.

(Stats courtesy of Opta and Infostrada)

Alexis Sanchez: signing of the season. The Chile star has been magnificent in his first campaign on these shores and was quite rightly in the running for the player of the year gongs. With him in their ranks, Arsenal have a world-class star who guarantees goals and if they can add to their squad in the summer, their 2015 form suggests he could help lead a genuine title challenge.

Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal): Two goals and a threat throughout. His link up with Cazorla, Ramsey, Ozil et al was quite breathtaking at times.

Hull: Harper 7, Chester 6, Dawson 5, McShane 6, Elmohamady 7, Huddlestone 5, Livermore 5, Quinn 6, Brady 6, Aluko 5, N'Doye 6. Subs: Meyler 7, Robertson 6, Jelavic 5.

Arsenal: Ospina 6, Bellerin 7, Mertesacker 6, Koscielny 6, Monreal 7, Coquelin 6, Cazorla 9, Ramsey 8, Ozil 7, Alexis 9, Giroud 6. Subs: Wilshere 7, Walcott n/a.