An Alexis Sanchez brace and a strike from Aaron Ramsey have given Arsenal a 3-1 win away at relegation-threatened Hull City in their Premier League clash at the KC Stadium.
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The visitors dominated possession in the early stages and fashioned a half-chance three minutes in when Ramsey crossed for Olivier Giroud, but the Frenchman fired over under pressure.
Tigers goalkeeper Steve Harper was untroubled until just before the quarter-hour mark, when Sanchez weaved his way past several Hull players before smashing an effort from the edge of the area that was punched away.
The Gunners continued to press and duly broke the deadlock in the 28th minute when Sanchez curled a free kick into the back of the net via a Michael Dawson deflection to give the visitors the lead.
Five minutes later Arsenal were two up as Santi Cazorla played a ball into the area for Ramsey, whose shot deflected off Robbie Brady and into the net, leaving Harper stranded once again.
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The Hull goalkeeper kept his side in the game as he punched away a Cazorla shot in the 36th minute, but he was beaten once again on the stroke of half time by Sanchez, who collected a Ramsey pass, rounded the veteran stopper and slotted home to all but kill off the contest.
The Tigers were straight on the attack after the restart, though Sone Aluko sliced an effort well off target in the 47th minute.
Despite some positive play from the Gunners, Hull succeeded in pulling a goal back just before the hour mark, Ahmed Elmohamady lifting the ball into the area for Stephen Quinn to head home.
The 59th minute then saw Steve Bruce's charges nearly score a second when Paul McShane powered a header just over the bar, before Arsenal fans welcomed the return of Jack Wilshere as the England man came on for Ramsey in the 67th minute.
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Harper pulled off yet more defining saves in the latter stages of the second half as the 40-year-old kept out Hector Bellerin's fierce strike before Wilshere's follow up was cleared off the line by James Chester.
Ultimately neither side could add another goal as the blowing of the final whistle saw Arsenal edge level on points with Manchester City in the Premier League table, though last year's champions remain second on goal difference.
Meanwhile Hull remain in relegation trouble as they slip to 17th in the table on goal difference, just one point ahead of Sunderland but having played a game more than the Mackems.
Giuseppe Labellarte
