By Toby Prince
Alexis Sanchez scored twice in an incredible first 20 minutes as Arsenal destroyed Manchester United 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
Questions of Arsene Wenger and the Gunners had been asked all week but they were answered within six minutes as first Sanchez and then Mesut Ozil found the net.
United had no answer for the quartet of Sanchez, Ozil, Theo Walcott and Aaron Ramsey as the Chilean scored his second 14 minutes later.
The win moves Arsenal level on points with the Red Devils and only two adrift of league leaders Manchester City.
Arsenal exploded into life at the Emirates when Sanchez stylishly found the back of the net after only two minutes.
Ozil and Ramsey exchanged passes on the right before the former sent in a low cross as Sanchez nipped in front of David De Gea to backheel the ball in.
And just as the Gunners fans retook their seats, they were on their feet again as it was Ozil’s turn to tuck the ball past De Gea.
Walcott exposed Daley Blind’s lack of pace on the left of the area before picking out his German teammate who comfortably slotted the ball home from 12 yards to put Arsenal 2-0 up after a mere six minutes.
The time between the goals increased but they kept coming as Sanchez got his fifth goal in two Premier League games on 20 minutes as United’s defence was again torn apart.
The forward picked up the ball on the left, bundled through a poor, weak tackle from Matteo Darmian before unleashing a thunderbolt into the top corner.
Ramsey should have made it four 10 minutes before half time when Ozil picked him out unmarked at the back post, but the Welshman volleyed high and wide when it looked easier to score.
Anthony Martial had an opportunity to pull a goal back just before the break after a great turn, but his snap-shot was deflected away by the on-rushing Petr Cech.
Louis van Gaal brought on Antonio Valencia and Marouane Fellaini at half time but it did nothing to halt the Arsenal onslaught as Ramsey continued to threaten.
Bastian Schweinsteiger, who controversially started ahead of Morgan Schneiderlin, had a chance to grab a consolatory first goal for the club but his first touch deserted him at the vital moment after two delightful dummies from Juan Mata and Wayne Rooney.
Ozil should have got his second goal towards the end of the match in what was an identical copy of his sixth minute effort, with the only difference being his shot was this time directly at the waiting De Gea.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlin almost had a goal of his own to mark a lively cameo but his chipped finish rebounded off the bar as Arsenal got their season back on track after a week of uncertainty.
Earlier in the day, Everton forced Liverpool to a 1-1 draw at Goodison Park. Danny Ings’ 42nd minute strike was cancelled by Romelu Lukaku on the stroke of half-time to ensure that both Merseyside sides shared the spoils.
