Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger saluted Alexis Sanchez after seeing the summer signing capitalise on Sunderland's generosity to claim a match-winning double.
The Chile international made the most of horrendous errors by defender Wes Brown and goalkeeper Vito Mannone either side of half-time to secure a 2-0 victory for the Gunners at the Stadium of Light.
Sanchez's goals capped a fine individual display, although he will rarely be presented with two easier opportunities to find the back of the net.
A delighted Wenger said: "He took advantage of the mistakes they made, but as well, he has super quality, Sanchez. He has has quick feet and that's why he wins many balls that normal players don't win.
"In transition from offence to defence, he is very quick and wins the ball back very quickly, and you can take advantage of that."
Sanchez could hardly believe his luck as opened the scoring on the half-hour after Brown scuffed an attempted back-pass into his path, and he was similarly astonished to see Mannone serve up the ball to him six yards out in stoppage time at the end of the game.
In between, the Black Cats had produced something of a fightback after spending much of the first half decidedly on the back foot, but Wenger was more than satisfied with the performance and result three days after a hard-fought 2-1 Champions League victory at Anderlecht.
He said: "We had a difficult game on Wednesday night and we come to Sunderland, who had a big defeat last week and before the game what we wanted was the three points. We got them.
"I believe we were quite in control, but as long as we couldn't score the second goal, of course you concede a goal and drop points.
"We didn't do it today. We were focused - maybe we missed some opportunities in the final third with the final ball, but overall we are very happy to get the three points.
"We won at Anderlecht, we won here today two and a half days later, and that's never easy in this game."
For opposite number Gus Poyet, it proved another difficult afternoon a week after his side's 8-0 hammering at Southampton.
Asked about the mood in the dressing room, the Uruguayan said: "It's a little bit of anger, really, because when you know the team, the group was there and responded and they tried, they really fought hard for the result, and then two actions...
"Normally it takes you I don't know how many games to commit one of those mistakes, and we made two in the same game - and after last weekend - which is something that has put us in the position we are in, really.
"It's clear that we are all getting paid to win games and we have won only one in the league, so it is time to go and win.
"It doesn't matter who we play against - you could see today. Yes, Arsenal were better than us, yes, they had the ball more, but you take the two mistakes away and...
"If we were a little more relaxed in the last ball or made better decisions in the last third, or you use (Will) Buckley better, then you are talking about something different.
"Now it's more about character than anything else, to be brave enough to go on to the pitch and believe you can win the game."
Meanwhile, Wenger confirmed England international Theo Walcott's return to fitness after a nine-month lay-off with a knee injury by naming him among the substitutes, although the Frenchman admitted he remains short of match-fitness.
He said: "He is fit, he lacks competition. Physically, he lacks two things: contact in the Premier League, and competition, but fitness-wise, he has no problem at all."
Source: PA
