Watch: Arsenal fans react on Twitter to record-breaking 22-pass goal v Sunderland

Dave is a huge Leeds fan and ardent disciple of Bielsa ball. A career in print magazines that included editing PC Zone, launching PokerPlayer and redesigning The Big Issue has finally led Dave to writing about the love of his life, Leeds United. It’s been a tough 2020 but the single scariest moment was the first quarter of the game against Man City. Rodrigo will be the saviour this season.

Published on:

29 Oct 2016, 8:49 am

By Tony Hughes

Alexis Sanchez scored his fifth (and later his sixth) Premier League goal of the season against Sunderland on Saturday afternoon.

It was a real team effort though and a trademark Arsenal goal as they started the move from a throw-in deep in their own half.

From the throw-in, from Kieran Gibbs to Laurent Koscielny, the Arsenal players built up a total of 21 additional passes, across the length of the field, before Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain picked the ball up and whipped in a cross.

Alexis Sanchez, not the tallest player on the field, rose ahead of Lamine Kone to head the ball home and send the visiting fans wild.

Opta confirmed that it was the most passes before a goal in the Premier League this season.

22 - There were 22 passes before Sanchez's goal v Sunderland, the most before a goal in the Premier League this season. Move. pic.twitter.com/u30eP4fYUU
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 29, 2016

Arsenal fans took to Twitter to celebrate the goal that helped take them go three points clear at the top of the Premier League table, with Manchester City and Liverpool due to play later on Saturday.

Here is a selection of their tweets:

Alexis Sánchez's goal 😍 Notice the 21-pass build-up. https://t.co/wvYUGl6sV0
— Fouad (@FouadAFC) October 29, 2016

21 passes from cech to the header by sanchez. Great build up for the goal and good quality of football. Good first half.#ARSENAL
— bader (@Bader_AlBannay) October 29, 2016

That Sanchez goal tho. That's why he's my favourite Arsenal player, but those defenders foolish small
— Kaniel Outis (@tossin_O) October 29, 2016

So far so good by #Arsenal a classic assist by the #Ox to #Sanchez whose header was good enough to gave us the lead in the first half
— Fahad Afridi 🇵🇰 (@37gunner) October 29, 2016

📸 22 passes led to Alexis Sanchez's opener, the most in the #PL this season. Sunderland 0-1 Arsenal (31mins) #SUNARS pic.twitter.com/XIGynE2rnI
— 9jagooners (@9jaGooners) October 29, 2016

@Alexis_Sanchez at his best today!! Brilliant header #SFCvAFC @Arsenal
— Akshath Subbaiah (@iAkshath) October 29, 2016

Come on Arsenal, grab a few more in the second half, Sanchez and chamberlain have been unreal 🔴⚪️🔴⚪️
— JB (@jbrw_n) October 29, 2016

In other Arsenal news, TV pundit and former striker Alan Smith has pinpointed this problem ahead of Arsenal's title challenge this season.

Arsenal

Alexis Sanchez