Sanchez scores 2, Arsenal beats Hull City 4-1

Instead, Alexis Sanchez stepped up and missed, something which did cause the manager some consternation when Cazorla was the designated penalty taker (having already scored two this season). They need to be a bit more ruthless in those situations. It is safe to say that caretaker manager Mike Phelan has exceeded all expectations with this side and has made them into genuine survival contenders.

Hard away trips have been the Gunners’ undoing in years gone by but Walcott is adamant Wenger’s side have developed a ruthless streak on the road which does not allow opponents to bully them.

Ryan Mason came on to make his first home appearance shortly after, replacing Tom Huddlestone in the middle of the park.

Theo Walcott earlier posted a photo of himself stuck in traffic.

Arsene Wenger will check on the fitness of Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud ahead of Arsenal‘s trip to Hull City on Saturday, but Aaron Ramsey has been ruled out.

The scoreline was perhaps harsh on the 10 men of Hull, who rallied manfully to bring the score back to 2-1 as the match entered the final 10 minutes.

The 23-year-old has started Arsenal’s last two games on the bench with Santi Cazorla and Francis Coquelin playing in central midfield, but Wenger has indicated the Switzerland worldwide could play farther forward.

Hull took six points from its first two games but hasn’t won since.

Arsenal: Cech 6; Bellerin 7, Mustafi 6, Koscielny 6, Monreal 6; Coquelin 7, Cazorla 6; Walcott 7, Ozil 6, Iwobi 8; Sanchez 7. The Scottish global was sorely missed for a major part of the game against Manchester United, which they ultimately lost to a last minute Marcus Rashford victor.

Competition for places in midfield remains as high as ever at the Emirates Stadium but the Frenchman is expected to utilise all of the resources available to him in his side’s title push. However, if the Spaniard is able to find his own goal-scoring form this weekend against Hull, Giroud could see his spell on the Arsenal bench extended indefinitely. Sometimes – we lost out first game – you go for stability. And in true Arsenal style, the fact they didn’t kill the game off quickly enough meant Hull were right back in it, even for just a few minutes.

Hull have only beaten the Gunners once since 1915 and that poor run was extended on Saturday, with Sanchez’s double helping to secure a 4-1 win against a City side who were reduced to 10 men just before the break after Jake Livermore was sent off.