Alexis Sanchez twice capitalised on defensive errors to give Arsenal a 2-0 win over Sunderland in the Premier League while Southampton edged Stoke City by a lone goal to replace Manchester City in second place elsewhere on Saturday.

Sunderland was looking to recover from an 8-0 annihilation at Southampton last weekend but the Black Cats did themselves no favours against the Gunners as errors by Wes Brown and former Arsenal goalkeeper Vito Mannone gave the Gunners the three points.

A poor backpass from Wes Brown was latched on by Sanchez who closed in on goal before chipping over Mannone to put Arsenal ahead just after the half-hour mark.

And the win was wrapped up in the 90th minute when Mannone fell wheh trying to kick the ball out, allowing Sanchez to score the easiest of tap-ins.

The win lifts Arsenal to fifth place with 14 points, eight points behind leaders Chelsea who visit Manchester United on Sunday, while Sunderland is now a point and a place above the relegation zone.

Elsewhere in the Premier League, Saido Mane scored in the first half for Southampton while Graziano Pelle hit the crossbar as the Saints beat Stoke City 1-0 to go second on the table with 19 points, three points behind Chelsea.

In other matches, Mario Balotelli had a second half effort cleared off the line as Liverpool was forced to a goalless draw by Hull City in Anfield while second half goals from Victor Anichebe with a header and Saido Berahino with a 90th minute penalty saw West Brom come from two goals down to draw 2-2 at home to Crystal Palace.

Earlier on Saturday, Manchester City fell to a 2-1 loss at West Ham in a match which saw Sergio Agüero and Yaya Toure denied by the crossbar as goals in each half from Morgan Amalfitano and Diafra Sakho gave the Hammers a big win at Upton Park.