English Premier League: Sanchez brace takes pressure off Wenger

Gunners move to fifth, two points ahead of rivals Tottenham

LONDON: Alexis Sanchez capped an outstanding individual display with two goals as Arsenal moved up to fifth in the Premier League with a 3-0 victory against Stoke on Sunday. 

Laurent Koscielny set Arsene Wenger's side on course for the win with a sixth minute header but it was Sanchez who stood out, scoring either side of half-time at the Emirates Stadium to take his season tally to 18.

While a serious looking shoulder injury to Arsenal right-back Mathieu Debuchy took some of the gloss off the win, the return of Mesut Ozil for his first appearance since early October provided Wenger with another welcome boost.

Arsenal had no shortage of motivation in their efforts to revive their top four challenge in the wake of the New Year's Day defeat at Southampton that had left them in sixth place.

Tottenham's loss at Crystal Palace on Saturday offered Wenger's side a chance to leapfrog their north London rivals, while they were also keen to avenge a chastening 3-2 defeat at the Britannia Stadium last month.

On that occasion, Mark Hughes' side had gone ahead after just 19 seconds and were in complete control when they reached half-time three up, sparking fierce criticism of Wenger.

But Stoke had lost on each of their 12 visits to Arsenal since 1981 and it soon became clear that run would continue as Wenger's men set about the game like a side with a score to settle.

Chelsea reclaim summit as Everton hold City

Chelsea took sole possession of first place in the Premier League table after they beat Newcastle United 2-0 on Saturday and Manchester City drew 1-1 at Everton.

Chelsea began the day dead-level with City, but with the defending champions dropping points for only the second time in 10 matches, Jose Mourinho's side moved two points clear.

Mourinho's team were far from their best, but they added a delightfully constructed second goal just before the hour, with Diego Costa gathering a clever back-heel from Oscar and drilling in his 15th goal of the campaign.

"You always want to play well, but that's not always possible," said Chelsea assistant coach Steve Holland.

"It is important that when you don't play as well as you'd like to, you still get the result."

At Goodison Park, Everton enjoyed the best of the first half against City, with Seamus Coleman hitting the bar.

City went ahead in the 74th minute when Fernandinho helped a deflected shot from David Silva over the line with his head, but Steven Naismith equalised four minutes later, glancing home a free-kick from Leighton Baines.

"In the first half we had clear chances," said City manager Manuel Pellegrini, who welcomed Sergio Aguero back from injury.

"In the second half Everton improved and had a chance to draw and did so. If you said at the beginning you are going to draw at Everton away, maybe it is not so bad."

 

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