Arsenal: Alexis Sanchez Scores Twice As Gunners Down Crystal Palace In Festive Cracker At Selhurt Park (Video)

Alan Duffy

28th, December 2017

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His time at Arsenal may be coming to a close, either in January or next summer, but Alexis Sanchez once again showed his worth to the Gunners by netting a match-winning brace at Selhurst Park on Thursday.

The game saw Arsene Wenger equal Sir Alex Ferguson’s record for most Premier League games managed (810), with the Frenchman looking to get one over on fellow coaching veteran Roy Hodgson.

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Arsenal, with Callum Chambers in for Nacho Monreal and Sead Kolasinac back in a left-wing-back berth, started well and took the lead on 25 minutes, via a smart finish from Shkodran Mustafi.

The Gunners failed to make the most of a number of great chances in the first period and, soon after the break, the Eagles got themselves back into the game.

Andros Townsend was the scorer, with the winger netting after a cross from the superb Wilfried Zaha, after some trademark sloppy defending from the Gunners.

With the home fans now in full voice, Palace pushed for a second but the visitors stood firm and eventually took the lead again on 62 minutes.

Sanchez was the scorer, this time via a powerful drive which beat Julian Speroni at his near post, after some neat footwork from Alexandre Lacazette.

Just four minutes later, the Gunners were 3-1 up, with Sanchez scoring again, this time after controlling a magnificent long pass from the impressive Jack Wilshere before firing past Speroni.

Arsenal looked home and dry, but once again Hodgson’s charges roused themselves, and eventually got a goal back, with James Tomkins nodding home (all too easily) from a Townsend corner.

However, that would prove to be the final goal of a cracking game, with the resurgent Palace losing for the first time in nine league games.

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As for Arsenal, the win puts them fifth in the table, level on points with rivals Spurs and still well in the hunt for a top-four finish.

Posted in Arsenal, Crystal Palace, Videos

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