Tigers tamed by superb Sanchez
ARSENAL and Alexis Sanchez continued their fine record against Hull as Arsene Wenger’s side won a third straight Premier League match for the first time since December.
The north Londoners were far from convincing in a midweek Champions League draw at Paris St Germain, just days after fortuitously overcoming Southampton, but matters were far more comprehensive here.
Hull have only beaten the Gunners once since 1915, and that poor run was extended, with Sanchez’s double helping to secure a comfortable win against a City side who were reduced to 10 men just before the break when Jake Livermore was sent off.
Mike Phelan, still only in caretaker charge of Hull despite winning August’s manager of the month award, stuck with the same starting line-up that had served him so well this term, while Petr Cech and Theo Walcott came in for the visitors.
Sanchez has now scored six goals in five matches in all competitions against the Tigers, and he grabbed the first of this contest early on.
Walcott was soon involved as he provided a cross from which Sanchez could only blaze over, but a clumsy save from Eldin Jakupovic allowed Arsenal to strike in the 17th minute.
Francis Coquelin showed impressive awareness after his initial shot was blocked, playing the ball to Santi Cazorla rather than having another effort. Walcott got away a cross-shot that Jakupovic parried into the path of Alex Iwobi, whose effort went in off Sanchez.
Jakupovic superbly stopped Iwobi and watched Mesut Ozil sky the rebound as Arsenal dominated, with Abel Hernandez’s strike into the sidenetting and a tame Robert Snodgrass effort the best Hull could muster.
Home hopes of a Tigers comeback faded as half-time approached, with Livermore adjudged to have purposely handled a Coquelin shot.
Referee Roger East pointed to the spot and sent Livermore off, much to the former Tottenham man’s shock – and the home fans’ chagrin.