Derby 2-6 Arsenal
Arsenal crushed Derby at Pride Park with Emmanuel Adebayor scoring a second half hat trick.
The hosts had looked lively early on but once Arsenal got going they could have had a cricket score.
The opening 24 minutes looked good for Derby, they were playing free flowing football and attacking the Arsenal goal. But in the 25th minute Darren Moore gifted Van Persie the ball, he played it to Bendtner a quick exchange and Bendtner slot home past Roy Carroll.
However, with Arsenal now controlling play, it was a turn up when Derby equalised on the half hour. Robbie Savage planted a free-kick in the area, the ball ricocheted about before McEveley knocked it home from close range.
5 minutes before the break and Arsenal were in charge again. Toure clipped a delightful ball over the Derby back four, Van Persie slipped glided into space, chested the ball down and half-volleyed a rising drive into the roof of the net.
Arsenal’s third came when Denilson played in Walcott on the right, he skipped past his marker on the byline and cut the ball back to Eboue whose fortunate touch played in Adebayor, on for Van Persie, to tap in from close range.
Derby were not finished though. In the 76th minute, substitute Robert Earnshaw ran through one on one with Fabianski and the ball into the far post. The ensuing celebration suggested Earnshaw had scored in a cup final, rather than his first Premier League goal in two and a half years.
At 3-2, Derby fans thought they may just get something from the game. But, 90 seconds later they realised not.
Walcott cut inside his marker on the left and curled his shot into the far corner of the net. A fine goal and one that will no doubt assist his much needed confidence.
Ten minutes from time, Adebayor collected Clichy’s low cross from the left, he calmly slotted past Carroll and decided to mimic Earnshaw’s earlier celebration.
In injury time, Adebayor completed his hat trick. Fabregas played a splitting ball from the middle of the park. Adebayor collected it and dragged the ball past Carroll before slotting in.
Adebayor likes playing Derby, this was his second hat trick against Derby this season.
