Alexis Sanchez runs to his team-mates after scoring against WBA.

Alexis Sanchez scored twice as Arsenal moved up to third in the Premier League with a victory over West Brom on a night when there were plenty of empty seats inside the Emirates Stadium.

Reports leading into the game suggested as many as 2,500 season-ticket holders had sent back their tickets, with seats on general sale as many stayed at home in protest against a poor season and some unhappy that Arsene Wenger remains in charge after another faded title challenge.

But, on the pitch, the hosts yesterday recorded a much-needed 2-0 win to pull clear of the chasing pack and leapfrog Manchester City into third spot as they look to secure Champions League football for a 20th consecutive campaign.

Sanchez struck twice in the first half in front of the official figure of 59,568 fans, but in reality the attendance was much less than that as the club count the number of tickets sold rather than the figure coming through the turnstiles.

Those fans who had made the journey were rewarded as early as the sixth minute as Sanchez turned Sandro before arrowing a low drive past Ben Foster for his fourth goal in as many games.

The hosts had their tails up and only a brave block from Jonny Evans kept out Mesut Ozil, with the recalled Aaron Ramsey volleying the rebound wide.

While West Brom continued to sit back, Arsenal retained possession without creating a further chance until past the midway point of the half when Hector Bellerin, named in the PFA Team of the Year earlier in the day, broke into the box and flashed a shot just wide.

A couple of set-pieces allowed the Baggies to exert a little attacking pressure and it almost paid off as Gareth McAuley broke clear of Ozil to head James McClean’s corner onto Petr Cech’s crossbar.

A neat interchange between Ramsey and Bellerin allowed the latter to cross in for Ozil, whose tame shot squirmed through Foster’s legs – with the England goalkeeper having his blushes spared by Craig Dawson on the line.

But the Gunners did not have to wait much longer for the second goal as Sanchez bent home a precise free-kick through a less-than solid West Bromwich wall after Ramsey had been felled by Claudio Yacob.