Is this the start of his comeback?
Alexis Sanchez broke Arsenal hearts on his return to Emirates, scoring the first goal in Manchester United’s 2-1 victory over Arsenal in their fourth-round FA Cup tie.
The Chilean started against his former club, as United progressed to the next stage of the competition.
It proved to be a wise team selection from interim boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, as Sanchez openned the scoring with a wonderful goal from a tight angle.
A lovely through ball from Romelu Lukaku sliced open the Arsenal defence, with Sanchez able to slot home from just outside the six-yard box.
It just had to be him…
Alexis Sánchez scores on his return to the Emirates! pic.twitter.com/zWgsqe9bMa
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 25, 2019
Jesse Lingard double their lead just two minutes later, after a Manchester United counterattack.
Arsenal made things nervous for the visitors however when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang pulled one back for Unai Emery’s side, following great work from Aaron Ramsey.
Superb from Aaron Ramsey 👏🔥 pic.twitter.com/w88XZURguQ
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 25, 2019
It was not enough for the Londoners however, as Anthony Martial scored a third for United late on and secured the win.
A scuffle sparked by Jesse Lingard late on recalled the United-Arsenal ties of old, and resulted in bookings for both Marcus Rashford and Sead Kolašinac
The result extended Manchester United’s unbeaten run to eight games following Solskjaer’s appointment.
Alexis Sanchez signed for United from Arsenal in January 2018, in a £30 million deal that also saw Henrikh Mkhitaryan move in the opposite direction.
Until Friday night’s tie, he had largely been seen as a disappointment by fans, netting just three goals in 23 games.
