Chilean star Alexis Sanchez produced his best performance of the season to help his Arsenal side beat stubborn Palace 3-2 at Selhurst Park thereby boosting the Gunners’ top four hopes.

Shkrodan Mustafi gave the away side a first half lead that was cancelled out by Andros Townsend for Palace shortly after the interval before the Sanchez show.

The former Barcelona and Udinese man scored two goals within four minutes to edge Arsenal 3-1 ahead. The home side thereafter pulled one back through James Tomkins two minutes from time to set up a grandstand finish but the Gunners held on for an important win to close in on the top four places.

The win takes Arsenal (37 points) level with 5th-placed North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur (37 points) and to within one point of Liverpool (38 points) in 4th place in the race for UEFA Champions League (UCL) qualification ahead of next season.