Hull vs Arsenal: Alexis Sanchez double seals win for the Gunners against 10-man Tigers

Hull 1 Arsenal 4: Sanchez missed a penalty as Livermore was sent off with Walcott and Xhaka scoring the others

Sanchez celebrates his second goal with his Arsenal teammates (Getty)

Alexis Sanchez could afford to miss a penalty yet still maintain his impressive scoring record against Hull as Arsenal's Premier League rebuilding job gathers pace. After taking a point from their first two matches, this was their third consecutive victory, a feat they last achieved nine months ago.

A goal in each half means Sanchez now has six in his last five appearances against a side whose spirited, critic-confounding start to the campaign is a fading memory, as the uncertainty off the pitch given caretaker manager Mike Phelan's understandable reticence to accept the job on a full-time basis given on-going takeover talks continues to have a destabilising effect.

Arsenal's problems from the penalty spot continued as Sanchez missed the second of the four they've been awarded this season after Hull defender Jake Livermore was ordered off shortly before half-time for handball. Theo Walcott's deftly chipped finish 10 minutes into the second half as the forward sprinted onto a perfectly weighted backheel from Alex Iwobi ensured there was to be no stirring comeback from a Hull side whose fortunes are unlikely to take a turn for the better anytime soon, given that Liverpool and Chelsea are their next two Premier League opponents.

To their credit, the hosts made light of their numerical disadvantage, and pulled a goal back with 11 remaining, Robert Snodgrass finding the top corner from the penalty spot, after Arsenal keeper Petr Cech had been penalised for bringing down Dieumerci Mbokani, moments after the forward's debut introduction as a substitute.

Sanchez made sure of the points four minutes later, powering home his side's third after Walcott took the South American's pass in his stride, only to see his shot blocked by Eldin Jakupovic, the rebound falling invitingly for Arsenal's man of the match to settle the contest.

Granit Xhaka, a second-half substitute, provided Arsene Wenger with a timely reminder of his talents with an injury-time fourth. The summer arrival from Borussia Monchengladbach found the top corner in impressive style from 30 yards after accepting a pass from Mohamed Elneny.

Jake Livermore was sent off for handball in the penalty area (Getty Images)

Such was their dominance, Arsenal should have been out of sight by the interval, the only downside to their 45 minute game of keep ball being an inability to underline their superiority with more than a 17th minute strike by Sanchez.

Hull played a part in their own downfall. Jakupovic managed only to apply a weak parry to a driven cross from Walcott into the path of Alex Iwobi, whose shot from 12 yards found the net via a minimal though significant touch from Sanchez, who was lurking six yards out.

Sanchez had already fired over from close range after Walcott's inviting cut-back found the midfielder with time and space inside the Hull box, and it took a fine recovering tackle from full-back Andrew Robertson to prevent the South American scoring from close range after he pounced on an initial error from the Scot.

Jakupovic produced a stunning save low to his right to block Hector Bellerin's powerfully struck shot, with Mesut Ozil blazing the rebound over. The fortunes of Jakupovic continued on an upward curve in the wake of Livermore earning straight red card for blocking a goal-bound Francis Cocquelin shot with the top of his arm. The discord from those in amber and black on the pitch and the stands clearly failed to appreciate it was a case of arm to ball, a fact underlined by the lack of protest from the stand-in centre-back himself.

Hull had looked stretched even given the numerical parity of the previous 40 minutes, so given that they were a man down, a second goal at that stage would have proved decisive to the outcome. However, with regular penalty taker Cazorla - who has scored his last seven form the spot - looking on. Sanchez saw his effort saved by Jakupovic low to his right and Hull smuggled the loose ball to safety.

Granit Xhaka scored a goal of the season contender (Getty Images)

The celebrations from the stands was notably muted, perhaps an acknowledgement of the severity of the task facing Phelan's side for the remaining 50 minutes against opponents who were already passing them to death.

The hosts, who became the first club since Aston Villa eight years ago to name an unchanged line up in their first five Premier League games, rarely looked likely to end their 101 year wait for a home victory against the London club. They created only one moment of danger in the first-half, Snodgrass shooting tamely at the recalled Cech from 15 yards at the culmination of a neat four-man move.

Walcott's first goal since the opening weekend defeat by Liverpool ensured Sanchez wasn't left to ponder on his profligacy for too long, and although Abel Hernandez sent an acrobatic kick against the bar, Hull posed only a sporadic threat until the late penalty from Snodgrass. The visitors made it 26 consecutive games without defeat against newly promoted sides, a run stretching for more than four years.

Hull (4-1-4-1): Jakupovic; Elmohamady, Livermore, Davies Robertson; Clucas; Snodgrass, Huddlestone (Mason 58), Meyler, Diomande (Maguire 42); Hernandez (Mbokani 77).

Substitutes: Marshall, Maloney, Keane, Henriksen.

Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Cech; Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal; Coquelin, Cazorla (Xhara 68); Walcott (Perez 87), Ozil, Iwobi (Elneny 77) ; Sanchez.

Substitutes not used: Ospina, Gibbs, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Holding.

Referee: Roger East (Wiltshire)