The Chilean striker put on an attacking masterclass to tee up Mesut Ozil then score a second-half hat-trick in a thumping win for Arsene Wenger's men
Awesome Alexis Sanchez hit a hat-trick as Arsenal demolished West Ham and piled the pressure on Slaven Bilic.
Mesut Ozil hit a tap-in to open the scoring on 24 minutes. Sanchez then struck in the 72nd, 80th and 86th minutes with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain adding a screamer.
Substitute Andy Carroll bagged a close range consolation but angry West Ham fans deserted the London Stadium long before the finish with the club deep in relegation trouble.
Sanchez, the preferred choice up front for Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, has now scored 13 goals this season.
West Ham have still won only three times and Bilic’s side face in-form Liverpool next week.
1. Easy for Arsenal
The manner of Mesut Ozil’s winner, a tap in from six yards, summed up the ease with which the Gunners wrapped this up. Seldom can have they come up against a more passive, defensively shambolic West Ham side.
The Gunners should have been further ahead by half time that just their single goal. Nacho Monreal rampaged down the left while the Hammers struggling to cope with the movement of Alex Oxlade Chamberlain, Ozil and Alexis Sanchez.
2. Ox leaves Hammers in the soup
He has complained publicly about not getting enough chances but he has since taken his opportunity with aplomb.
The Ox was involved with everything that was good about Arsenal’s performance here. He breached the Hammers backline with a wonderful through ball that Sanchez overran. He ghosted into space just after the half hour mark and although his shot left a lot to be desired West Ham were simply unable to cope with him.
Late in the first half he raced to the by-line down the left and lofted a super cross in to the back post.
Had Theo Walcott showed more belief to get in there he’d have had a sitter.
3. West Ham’s defensive woes continue
Where on earth do you start?
Fair enough, they were without Aaron Cresswell at left-back and lost James Collins after just seven minutes. But at times West Ham were all over the place here. Edmilson Fernandes seemed unsure as whether he was supposed to pick up in midfield or help substitute Alvaro Arbeloa who looked ring-rusty to say the least at right-back.
As a result, Nacho Monreal and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain slipped though at will. In fact, Arsenal should have scored after the Spaniard skipped down left left for the umpteenth time and cut the ball back to Aaron Ramsey. Darren Randolph pulled off a superb double save to keep out the Welshman and Mesut Ozil from the rebound.
As for the opening goal, Slaven Bilic will have been furious. Experienced former Juventus defender Angelo Ogbonna dithered on the ball in midfield before sending it straight to Francis Coquelin in midfield.
Sanchez was then put through and the Chilean squared it for Ozil. Easy.
4. The magnificent Sanchez
Time and again it has been said that Arsenal are a far better side with the Chilean up front and yet again he proved it. Sanchez turned Arthur Masuaku, left the Frenchman wondering which way he’d gone, then, under pressure, angled a powerful drive across Randolph and into the bottom corner. It was a goal of class and composure.
His second, from the edge of the area, you could put down to poor marking but was still a fine finish. His brace was a reward for his relentless running and tireless industry.
Olivier Giroud’s numbers may be decent enough but Sanchez is a man that makes Arsenal fans breathe more easily. With Sanchez up front they can win the title. With Giroud not so much.
5. Manuel Lanzini a bright spot for the Hammers
How he did not square the ball for Fernandes when through on goal during the first half only he will know.
But the Argentine was lively, creative and one of the Hammers’ main hopes of a revival in this contest.
Time and again he was the one probing, prompting attacks and driving at the heart of the Arsenal defence.
He probably doesn’t get the credit he deserves because of the large shadow cast over him by Payet, but Lanzini’s importance to the West Ham side cannot be underestimated.
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