Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud, the two strikers, scored a goal in each half to give Arsenal a 2-0 victory over Stoke City in the English Premier League.
In a game that Arsenal dominated from minute one to minute 90, the only surprise was that the home team only managed two goals in the end, when it should have really been six or seven, with Jack Butland making a string of stunning saves for Stoke.
Arsenal made an absolutely searing start, and should, not could, have been 3-0 in front inside the first eight minutes of the match. However, the post, Jack Butland and some poor finishing meant the score remained 0-0.
The first opportunity fell for Sanchez, who saw his header, with a little bit of help from Butland, come off the post, with Walcott, a gaping goal asking to be found, firing the rebound wide. It was a chance he should have buried, even if he was a little off balance when he hit it.
Sanchez saw a second shot of his come off the post, this one an outstanding low drive from 20 yards, which had Butland, well and truly, beaten, but that ripple of the net just would not come Arsenal's way.
Walcott, preferred again to Olivier Giroud up front, was the culprit again next up, as a pinpoint cross from Hector Bellerin fell right onto his head from six yards, but the Arsenal forward somehow managed to hit it over the bar.
It looked like it might be one of those Arsenal days again, but a huge sigh of relief went through the Emirates just past the half hour.
Ironically, it came off an Arsenal counter-attack, after one of Stoke's very few foray forwards in the first half. Francis Coquelin made a brilliant challenge to dispossess Joselu near the halfway line, and there was Mesut Ozil picking out a delicious long pass for Walcott, who produced the perfect touch to get away from Marc Muniesa, before slipping the ball through Butland's legs.
Arsenal had chance after chance after chance in the second half as well, but Butland and more poor finishing again kept the scoreline at 1-0.
After all those pretty chances, though, it was off a setpiece that Arsenal found their comfort goal, with Giroud heading off a freekick from Cazorla.
It should have been about 6-0, but Arsenal will certainly take the 2-0 win and their first three points at home this season.
