Alexis Sanchez's latest epic contribution inspires Arsenal thumping of Stoke

Alexis Sanchez continued his outstanding debut season in England by helping himself to a double and a trademark assist in Arsenal's stylish 3-0 win over a bedraggled Stoke City at the Emirates Stadium.

The Chilean forward increased his haul to 12 Premier League goals and seven assists in what is rapidly turning into an epic personal campaign since his move from Barcelona during the close season.

He showed off all of his considerable £35 million wares as he bounded onto a pass from Tomas Rosicky to squeeze the ball beyond Asmir Begovic on 33 minutes for his side's second goal before adding the third from a free-kick shortly after half-time.

He was also involved in the opening goal when he threw over a cross for Laurent Koscielny's free header on six minutes with Stoke looking a poor imitation of the team who turned Arsenal over 3-2 at the Britannia Stadium last month.

Arsenal lost Mathieu Debuchy with a shoulder injury on 11 minutes, but they were the length of the Holloway Road ahead of Stoke, who were dependent upon their goalkeeper Asmir Begovic to prevent them from being humilitated.

A first Premier League win of 2015 for Arsene Wenger's side was highly impressive. Mark Hughes and Stoke will be relieved to escape from London having shipped only three.

6' GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Stoke! Sanchez with the cross, and that is a superb finish with the head from Koscielny. A 1-0 lead for the home side.

10' INJURY TO DEBUCHY: Arnautovic appeared to push Debuchy into the boards. This is very worrying. His day is well and truly finished. A shoulder injury. The Stoke man lucky to stay on.

13' CHANCE! Oxlade-Chamberlain thumps a shot a few yards wide of goal from 18 yards. A solid shot by the Arsenal man, but just off target.

20' SAVE! Begovic with another superb stop to turn away the shot by Giroud after he was set up by Alexis. The pressure continues.

27' CHANCE! These are brighter moments for Stoke, who have a free-kick just outside of the Arsenal area. Bojan Krkic with a short free-kick, but Whelan hammers it miles over from 18 yards. Had time to hit that. Half-chance for the visitors.

33' GOAL! Arsenal 2-0 Stoke! Rosicky with a lovely pass into the path of Sanchez, and he slams the shot into the net from 10 yards. Fantastic finish.

49' GOAL! Arsenal 3-0 Stoke! Sanchez manages to curl the free-kick through the wall. Begovic can't keep the ball out as it comes back off him via the post before trundling into the net.

80' WALCOTT CHANCE! Another lovely sweeping move from Arsenal as Sanchez picks out the run of Walcott, but he drags the ball wide. Should have worked Begovic there.

88' OSPINA SAVE! Finally a save from Ospina as he dives low to his left to stop the effort from Ireland finding the back of the net.

Stoke fail to find the net for only the sixth time this season – last term they failed to score in 14 matches.

Stoke lose their first match in the PL since 0-2 against Chelsea on 22 December, ending a three match unbeaten run.

Stoke lose in London for the first time this PL season, on their fourth visit to the capital – last season they lost five out of six visits.

Arsène Wenger has won all eight home PL matches with Mark Hughes on the opposite bench.

Alexis Sanchez has now contributed to 19 Premier League goals this season (12 goals, 7 assists), more than any other player in the league (Sergio Agüero is next with 17).

How are Arsenal looking at the outset of 2015? Looking very bright. Beating Stoke 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium is not the most difficult of tasks for such a squad, but all of Arsenal's players are looking bright. If Alexis Sanchez maintains his surge in form, the home side should dock in the top four as per usual.

Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal) - Easy decisions do not come easier than this. Not quite a one-man team, but not far off it. Must already be regarded as a favourite for England's player of the year gong. Arsenal are level on points with fourth-placed Southampton, but they would be off the pace in their annual pursuit of a Champions League spot without the outstanding contribution of Sanchez.

Arsenal: Ospina 7, Debuchy 6, Mertesacker 6, Koscielny 7, Monreal 7, Coquelin 7, Oxlade-Chamberlain 8, Rosicky 8, Cazorla 8, Alexis 9, Giroud 7...subs: Bellerin 6, Ozil 6, Walcott 6

Stoke: Begovic 8; Cameron 6, Wollscheid 5, Shawcross 6, Pieters 6; N'Zonzi 5, Whelan 6; Arnautovic 5, Bojan 5, Walters 5; Crouch 5..subs: Muniesa 6, Ireland 6, Sidwell 6