An Alexis Sanchez brace helped Arsenal to a 3-0 win against Stoke City in this afternoon's Premier League clash at the Emirates Stadium.
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The hosts made a lively start at the Emirates Stadium, with Sanchez bending an effort towards the bottom corner after just two minutes, but Potters goalkeeper Asmir Begovic was able to get down low and pull off a smart save.
Just three minutes later, however, the Gunners were in front. After Stoke failed to clear an initial corner, Sanchez curled a cross into the box for Koscielny to plant a header beyond the keeper.
Arsenal then suffered a setback when Mathieu Debuchy has to be substituted after just 12 minutes played, with the Frenchman injuring his shoulder following a challenge by Marko Arnautovic.
Nevertheless, the home side continued to push forward and threatened twice in quick succession as Olivier Giroud forced a save from Begovic before slicing wide moments later.
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Stoke had a chance just before the half-hour mark when Bojan Krkic rolled the ball to Glenn Whelan from a free kick, but the 30-year-old blasted over.
Stoke had a chance just before the half-hour mark when Bojan rolled the ball to Glenn Whelan from a free kick, but the 30-year-old blasted over.
They would come to rue that miss because Arsenal doubled their lead in the 33rd minute. Livewire Sanchez exchanged passes with Tomas Rosicky before marauding into the Stoke box and slotting home.
Gunners goalkeeper David Ospina, preferred to Wojciech Szczesny, was not tested until a tame Peter Crouch shot in first-half injury time.
The red-hot Sanchez doubled his personal tally for the afternoon four minutes after the restart, striking a free kick through the middle of the wall which squirmed over the line past Begovic.
Arsenal took their foot off the gas in the ensuing stages as Stoke registered several chances at the other end. Arnautovic curled a long-range shot wide and Crouch also fired off target from Marc Muniesa's cross.
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The Gunners attacked with fresh intent following those scares, but found themselves picking the ball out of the net in the 77th minute when Geoff Cameron bundled Crouch's pass home before the offside was raised.
Three minutes later, Sanchez worked his magic again when he broke free in a two-on-one situation and set up Theo Walcott, but the England winger dragged his effort well wide.
Ultimately, the game petered out as Arsenal comfortably secured all three points to remain within close proximity of the Champions League places. The Potters, meanwhile, sit 11th in the Premier League table.
Giuseppe Labellarte
