Sanchez double ensures Arsenal win against Palace

On the night he equalled former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson’s record of overseeing 810 Premier League games, Wenger watched the brilliant Sanchez turn an exciting match with two superb second-half goals in the space of four minutes. 

Shkodran Mustafi had given the dominant visitor a deserved lead after 25 minutes but Arsenal was made to rue a host of first-half near-misses as Palace roared back soon after the break with a well-worked Andros Townsend goal. 

Then Sanchez, whose future at Arsenal remains uncertain, demonstrated his world-class talent, first with a thunderous 62nd minute snap shot and then a lovely piece of control and fine finish from Jack Wilshere’s long, precise through ball. 

Despite James Tomkins ensuring a nervy finish for the visitor with an 89th minute headed goal, the win left Arsenal still in sixth place but it moved on to 37 points, alongside Tottenham Hotspur and to within a point of the top four. Palace, beaten for the first time in nine games, is 16th on 18 points, just a point above the relegation zone. There must have been much satisfaction for Wenger, whose own future at Arsenal had never been more hotly debated than when his side lost this same fixture 3-0 at Selhurst Park in April last season. 

That defeat inspired the Gunners’ successful run which ended with an FA Cup triumph and Wenger will now be hoping this victory could start another impressive sequence at the start of 2018 as it chases Champions League football for next season. 

After Townsend’s well-worked equaliser assisted by a pinpoint Wilfried Zaha cross had changed the game’s complexion, Arsenal’s nerves were settled only when Crystal Palace striker Christian Benteke hit a poor clearance out of defence, a mistake that ended with Sanchez rifling home the visitor’s second in the 62nd minute.