Alexis Sanchez double boosts Arsenal

Alexis Sanchez delivered a majestic display as Arsenal closed the gap in the race for a top four finish in the Premier League with a 3-0 victory over Stoke on Sunday.

Sanchez made Laurent Koscielny’s opener and then netted his 17th and 18th goals of the season to lift Arsenal above Tottenham into fifth spot.

The battle for Champions League qualification is hotting up, with Arsene Wenger’s side now level on points with fourth placed Southampton.

Just five weeks after Stoke’s shock victory over the Gunners as French defender Koscielny started the revenge mission with a sixth minute header from Sanchez’s cross.

Arsenal’s Mathieu Debuchy was forced off with a shoulder injury, but the hosts struck again in the 33rd minute.

It was another moment of magic from Sanchez as the former Barcelona forward took Tomas Rosicky’s pass and sized up his options before cleverly beating Asmir Begovic at his near post.

Sanchez wasn’t finished yet and his deflected free-kick four minutes after the interval sealed the points.

Chelsea reclaim summit

Chelsea took sole possession of first place in the table after they beat Newcastle United 2-0 on Saturday and Manchester City drew 1-1 at Everton.

Chelsea began the day dead-level with City, but with the defending champions dropping points for only the second time in 10 matches, Jose Mourinho’s side moved two points clear.

At Goodison Park, Everton enjoyed the best of the first half against City, with Seamus Coleman hitting the bar.

City went ahead in the 74th minute when Fernandinho helped a deflected shot from David Silva over the line with his head, but Steven Naismith equalised four minutes later, glancing home a free-kick from Leighton Baines.

Tottenham Hotspur squandered an opportunity to climb into the top four after losing 2-1 at Pardew’s Crystal Palace, who clambered out of the relegation zone.