Arsenal 3-0 Stoke City: Alexis stars as Gunners close in on top four

Thegoalmac can reveal that an inspired Alexis Sanchez took his goal tally for the season to 18 as Arsenal comfortably defeated Stoke City to move within touching distance of the Premier League's top four.

The irrepressible Alexis scored his 11th and 12th Premier League goals of the season either side of half-time after setting up Laurent Koscielny's early opener at the Emirates Stadium.

David Ospina was handed a first top-flight start in Arsenal's goal as Arsene Wenger dropped Wojciech Szczesny, who was caught smoking in the dressing room after the New Year's Day loss at Southampton.

But Stoke were rarely able to get near the Colombian, let alone test him, in a game that was dominated throughout by the hosts.

It was a completely different story for Ospina's opposite number Asmir Begovic, to whom Stoke were grateful for keeping the score down as they slipped to defeat at the Emirates for a seventh successive season.