Alexis Sanchez’s stunning first-half brace helped Arsenal blow away Manchester United 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium to move second in the Premier League.
The Gunners came into Sunday’s encounter on the back of a disappointing home Champions League defeat to Olympiacos and with the spotlight firmly back on manager Arsene Wenger.
However, Arsenal tore United apart with two early goals in the space of 74 seconds, a backheel from Sanchez and a cool finish by German playmaker Mesut Ozil, with Sanchez cracking home a superb third to put the game to bed after only 20 minutes.
United improved in the second half, but it was too little too late.
The impressive victory moves Arsenal above United on goal difference, and they are now only two points behind new leaders Manchester City heading into the international break.
Wenger had called for a response from his side — and that is exactly what they delivered with a blistering start.
Arsenal were on the offensive from kick off and swept ahead after just five minutes.
Aaron Ramsey fed Ozil down the right channel, the German World Cup winner ghosting through the penalty area before cutting the ball back to the near post.
Sanchez arrived on queue ahead of the defenders to backheel a sublime finish past David de Gea.
Before United could regroup, they were immediately opened up again.
This time it was down the left, with Walcott dashing past Daley Blind. The England forward played a ball back out to Ozil, who was waiting patiently on the penalty spot to dispatch a cool sidefoot finish into the bottom left corner.
Following the electric start, the tempo of the match dropped, as United look to build a spell of possession.
It was, though, only a brief respite before Sanchez delivered a world-class finish to put Arsenal 3-0 ahead.
Another quick break found Walcott, who in turn fed the ball out to the left.
Sanchez brushed off the challenge of Matteo Darmian before sidestepping Chris Smalling and firing the ball into the top-right corner.
It was now a case of damage limitation for Louis van Gaal’s men, who had come into the match on the back of three straight league wins. -SkySports.
