- Sanchez scored 2, misses PK
- Livermore sent off for Hull
- Third-straight win for Arsenal
- Xhaka, Walcott also score for Arsenal
Arsenal beat 10-man Hull City 4-1 at the KCOM Stadium on Saturday with Alexis Sanchez scoring twice to lead the Gunners to their third-straight win.
Arsene Wenger’s side took the lead through Sanchez, then he missed a penalty kick with Jake Livermore sent off for handball. Theo Walcott added a second in the second half, but Hull pulled one back through Robert Snodgrass after they were also awarded a penalty in an action-packed home.
Late on another goal for Sanchez and a screamer from Granit Xhaka -- his first for Arsenal -- added extra gloss to the scoreline. Arsenal now have 10 points from their first five games, while Hull have lost two of their last three games and remain on seven points.
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Hull held their own early on but Arsenal took the lead inside the first 20 minutes.
Walcott’s cross from the right was pushed out by Eldin Jakupovic and Alex Iwobi reacted quickest, slotting the ball towards goal and Sanchez deflected it in. 1-0 to the Gunners.
Sanchez had another chance soon after which was blocked at the crucial moment as he bared down on goal as Hull struggled to stay in reach.
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Arsenal should’ve been 2-0 up as Hector Bellerin crossed for Iwobi but his shot was initially well-saved by Jakupovic and then Mesut Ozil fired the follow up over. A let off for the Tigers.
It was all Arsenal and soon Hull were down to 10-men as Francis Coquelin’s effort was blocked by Livermore’s hand in the center of the goal and he was shown a straight red card and a penalty kick was awarded. Nightmare for Hull. However, Jakupovic came up huge as he saved Sanchez’s spot kick to keep the score at 1-0. Heroic stop.
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Early in the second half referee Roger East gave Santi Cazorla a talking to after committing plenty of late challenges as Arsenal’s experienced midfielder was walking a tightrope after already being on a yellow card.
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Arsenal were soon 2-0 up as Walcott combined with Iwobi and the latter pulled of an audacious back heel and Walcott clipped home over Jakupovic. 2-0.
Hull continued to battle and almost got back into the game in sensational fashion. A cross was flicked on to the back post and Abel Hernandez launched himself into an overhead kick but his spectacular effort hit the crossbar.
6 - Alexis Sanchez has now scored six goals and assisted two more in five competitive games against Hull City. Irritant.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 17, 2016
Soon after Hull did get back into the game as substitute Dieumerci Mbokani was taken down by Petr Cech and Snodgrass scored the spot kick. 2-1. However, any hope Hull had didn’t last long as Sanchez reacted quickly to a loose ball in the box and slotted him his second and Arsenal’s third. 3-1. Game over.
Substitute Xhaka then belted in an absolute beauty from distance in stoppage time to add some more gloss on the scoreline as the Gunners sealed their third-straight win.