Sanchez keeps Arsenal in top-four hunt
Gunners post sixth win in last seven games
AFP
AFP, LONDON: Alexis Sanchez kept alive Arsenals fading hopes of qualifying for the Champions League as the Chilean broke Sunderlands stubborn resistance to seal a crucial 2-0 win on Tuesday.
Arsene Wengers side were struggling to see off relegated Sunderland until Sanchez came to the rescue with two goals deep into the second half at the Emirates Stadium.
Despite refusing to sign a new contract, Sanchez remains the only Arsenal player consistently performing at a world-class standard and the former Barcelona forward, playing despite a recent thigh injury, is the sole reason they still have a faint chance of a top-four finish.
In reality, the fifth-placed Gunners need a miracle to qualify for the Champions League for a 20th successive season.
Arsenals sixth win in their last seven games moved them within one point of fourth-placed Liverpool, but there was bad news from Eastlands where Manchester City beat West Bromwich Albion to retain their three-point lead over Wengers team. Arsenal host Everton on Sunday, while Liverpool entertain relegated Middlesbrough and third-placed City travel to Watford.
If Liverpool win and City avoid defeat, Arsenal will miss out on the Champions League for the first time in two decades, even if they end the season with a victory.
Wengers approval ratings are at an all-time low with Arsenals disenchanted supporters and it will be fascinating to see if he decides to stay if the top four proves beyond reach.
Wenger had urged fans not to boycott the Sunderland fixture in their latest protest against the Gunners boss, but when the Frenchman emerged from the tunnel before kick-off he was greeted with swathes of empty red seats around the Emirates.
Sanchez thought hed given Arsenal an early lead when his 20-yard strike flashed past Sunderland goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, only for a linesmans flag to curtail his celebrations.
Olivier Giroud was the culprit after flicking the ball goalwards with his arm, and the Arsenal striker wasted a chance to redeem himself moments later when his close-range effort was pushed away by Pickford.
Wenger moaned this week that Arsenals top-four rivals were benefiting from playing teams with their minds already on their holidays, ignoring the fact the Gunners enjoyed victories over a Manchester United side more concerned with the Europa League final and a Stoke team with nothing to play for.
Sunderland, losers in nine of their last 12 games and relegated last month, were hardly a step up in class.
Yet Arsenal didnt find it easy to kill them off. A sharp stop from Pickford prevented Aaron Ramsey converting Mesut Ozils pass, while Hector Bellerin curled just over before Granit Xhakas strike skidded wide.
Never totally convincing at the back, Arsenal were almost breached against the run of play when Didier NDong tested Petr Cech, who then had to save from Jermain Defoe.
That sparked another flurry of Arsenal pressure, but both Bellerin and Ramsey shot into the side-netting, while Rob Holding headed straight at Pickford.
News of Citys goals against West Brom went down like a lead balloon at half-time and Nacho Monreal almost deepened Arsenals gloom with a comically miscued backpass that had Cech scrambling to keep it out.
That foreshadowed a nervous period for Arsenal, who looked short of ideas in the final third, and after Giroud glanced a header wide, Wenger sent on Danny Welbeck and Alex Iwobi.
When the breakthrough finally arrived in the 72nd minute, inevitably it was Sanchez who saved the day, tapping in from virtually on the line after Ozils pass had unhinged the Sunderland defender. Sanchez wasnt finished yet and he doubled Arsenals lead with a close-range header from Girouds flick eight minutes later.
Whether it will be enough to save Arsenals dispiriting season remains to be seen.
