Sanchez scores double in Arsenal win
Arsenal maintained their push for the top four in the English Premier League by beating Crystal Palace 3-2 on Friday.
The Gunners remain sixth, just one point behind fourth-placed Liverpool.
Crystal Palace had been undefeated in their last eight games and, though the Eagles host Manchester City next, they again demonstrated they can survive by often resisting Arsenal and going level through Andros Townsend’s goal. Palace remain one point off the drop zone.
Arsenal were off the mark first when Alexandre Lacazette’s shot forced goalkeeper Julian Speroni into a save that reached only the unmarked Shkodran Mustafi, who tapped in with ease.
The equaliser began on the left wing four minutes into the second half; Wilfried Zaha used his footwork to cross towards Townsend, who under little pressure finished firsttime into the bottom left corner beyond the diving Petr Cech.
Arsenal needed time to recover, and it was only after a lethargic clearance from Palace striker Christian Benteke after the hour mark that the Gunners were gifted the chance they needed. When Benteke half-heartedly cleared a corner to Calum Chambers, the defender returned the ball into the Palace box and watched as Lacazette and Alexis Sanchez combined to create space for the latter to strike into the bottom left corner.
Despite leading, Arsenal’s form this season meant only another goal would make victory look likely, and their fans had to wait only four more minutes.
With a brilliant chipped pass from inside his own half, Jack Wilshere – often a peripheral figure this season – sent Sanchez into space in the Palace area and, after he impressively controlled, the Chilean routinely poked beyond Speroni.
Crystal Palace’s pressure and obvious ambition produced a goal in the 89th minute when, after a corner, Townsend crossed to James Tomkins who, headed in.