Alexis Sanchez double helps Arsenal past Bournemouth

Alexis Sanchez's brace kept Arsenal within touching distance of the Premier League summit as they clinched a hard-fought 3-1 victory over an impressive Bournemouth at the Emirates Stadium.

The Chilean hitman started and finished the scoring as the Gunners made it 19 matches unbeaten with a much-needed win that was hard on the enterprising visitors.

Theo Walcott had restored the home side's lead after Callum Wilson's penalty had deservedly seen Bournemouth go in level at the break.

Arsenal improved in the second period but it was never comfortable until Sanchez tapped in his second at the death.

Arsene Wenger's side had drawn their previous three games in all competitions, leading many to suggest the team were going through what have become familiar travails in the month of November.

It was far from vintage Arsenal but they got a first league win of the month by being more clinical in front of goal than the Cherries, who saw Petr Cech make a wonderful save to deny Benik Afobe a second equaliser.

The result means the Gunners are now three points behind leaders Chelsea while Bournemouth are down to 11th, just four points off the dropzone.

Not such a bad November. The media may well have to put their November stats on hold for another 12 months. Arsenal have now won two and drawn three of all of their fixtures in the month - hardly a catastrophe. The Gunners will finish it off with a League Cup clash with Southampton that could see them move to within two games of Wembley. It's clear they aren't firing on all cylinders, but as Wenger suggested, there is no point assessing November until all of the matches have been played.

Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal). Scored two and hit the woodwork. Almost all of Arsenal's best moments involved the Chilean.

Arsenal: Cech 7, Debuchy 5, Mustafi 6, Koscielny 6, Monreal 6, Elneny 7, Xhaka 7, Walcott 7, Ozil 7, Oxlade-Chamberlain 7, Sanchez 8. Subs: Gabriel 6, Ramsey 6, Giroud 7.

Bournemouth: Federici 6, A.Smith 6, Francis 6, Cook 5, B.Smith 6, Ake 7, Gosling 6, Arter 6, Stanislas 5, King 6, Wilson 7. Subs: Afobe 6, Ibe 6, Mousset n/a.

12' - GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Bournemouth. A real gift for the hosts. Cook takes a throw from Federici and inexplicably underhits it straight to Sanchez who rounds the keeper and slots it home.

23' - GOAL! Arsenal 1-1 Bournemouth. Wilson levels from the spot. He coolly rolls it into the opposite corner as Cech dives to his left. Arsenal were fuming at the award after Monreal clumsily ran across Wilson.

25' - BOURNEMOUTH CHANCE! Adam Smith puts a free header over from eight yards out after Ake had nodded a free kick back across goal.

45+3' - ARSENAL HIT THE BAR! Sanchez picks up a pass from Xhaka on the right of the area and slams a stunning effort against the woodwork.

53' - GOAL! Arsenal 2-1 Bournemouth. Walcott nods in from close range after Ozil's deflected cross had been volleyed back across goal by Monreal.

73' - BOURNEMOUTH PENALTY SHOUT! Francis tries to flick a pass into the box. It hits Monreal on the arm. The referee doesn't give it.

77' - BOURNEMOUTH CHANCE! Cech denies Afobe at the far post after a right-wing corner had been flicked on by Francis.

90+1' - GOAL! Arsenal 3-1 Bournemouth. Sanchez seals the win with a simple tap-in from Giroud's cutback. The French substitute did all the hard work, exchanging a nice one-two with Ozil in the build up.

Arsenal are unbeaten in 19 games in all competitions (W13 D6), their longest such run since a run of 28 between April and November 2007.

Callum Wilson’s goal was Bournemouth’s first ever against Arsenal in any competition.

Only Diego Costa (14) has had a hand in more Premier League goals this season than Alexis Sanchez (11 – 8 goals, 3 assists).

Theo Walcott scored his sixth Premier League goal of the season – his best return in the competition since 2012-13 (14 goals).

The Gunners have conceded a penalty in consecutive home games for the first time ever in the Premier League.