Sanchez hits brace as Arsenal beat hapless Sunderland

Sunderland’s misery continued after Arsenal came away with a 2-0 victory at the Stadium of Light.

Alexis Sanchez got the opening goal of the game when Wes Brown turned towards his own goal and scuffed a backpass two yards ahead of him. The Chilean intercepted the pass and easily dinked the ball over Vito Mannone.

It was a highlight of the errors in Sunderland’s general play rather than an aberration, and Arsenal were not required to get out of first gear to complete an easy win.

In the second half, Arsenal continued to dominate possession but Sunderland stayed deep and remained organised. Arsenal could not break them down, but Sunderland similarly could not hit Arsenal on the counterattack in their search for an equaliser. And then, more embarrassment. Vito Mannone slipped as he tried to clear a backpass, Sanchez closed him down and sealed the match.

15’ - WELBECK CHANCE - Welbeck cuts onto his right foot on the left of the box, and curls a shot just over the far corner.

30’ - GOAL! Sunderland 0-1 Arsenal. Sanchez scores. Brown scuffs a backpass that Sanchez is able to collect about two yards after Brown's touch. He sprints towards goal and dinks his shot over Mannone.

33’ - CAZORLA CHANCE - Cazorla strikes across the ball from distance but can't quite get the ball to sneak back inside the far post.

79’ - WELBECK HEADER - Monreal advances down the left, curls in a cross to the near post, and he sends a header just a yard over.

90+2’ - GOAL! Sunderland 0-2 Arsenal. Sanchez scores. Mannone attempts to control a Buckley backpass, he tries to toe it away and slips, chipping it a yard forward. Sanchez seizes the ball and taps in for a simple goal.

This is the first Premier League match for Arsenal that they have not drawn after Alexis Sanchez scored.

Arsenal have won five Premier League away games in a row against Sunderland for the first time.

The Black Cats have won just one of their last 22 Premier League games against Arsenal.

Arsenal became the second team (after Man Utd) to score 1500 Premier League goals.

Are Gus Poyet and Arsene Wenger the men to turn things around? He is clearly not as abrasive as Paolo Di Canio, but he left under a cloud at Brighton and has a track record of outspoken interviews. If the under-performance continues it would be reasonable to doubt whether he has the empathy to improve his side’s morale. Sunderland are by no means too good to go down. For Arsenal, their continued sloppiness in possession and inability to break sides down under their own steam shows that Wenger is continuing to oversee Arsenal’s stagnation.

Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal): It was his goals that separated the sides, and it was only he who appeared to be superior to their opponents. On a day of poor passing and deep defending, only Sanchez had the calmness to make the most of a chance when it came his way.

Sunderland: Mannone 4, Vergini 5, van Aanholt 6, O’Shea 6, Brown 5, Cattermole 6, Larsson 5, Rodwell 6, Buckley 5, Johnson 5, Fletcher 5. Subs: Wickham 6, Gomez 6, Altidore 5.

Arsenal: Szczesny 6, Chambers 6, Mertesacker 6, Monreal 6, Gibbs 6, Arteta 6, Flamini 5, Oxlade-Chamberlain 6, Cazorla 5, Alexis 7, Welbeck 5. Subs: Bellerin 6, Ramsey 6, Rosicky 6.