Derby 2 Arsenal 6
Gunners gunning on all cylinders as Emannuel Adebayor fires home 3. Derby destroyed in their remaining few games in the English Premier League.Mathematically it is still possible for Arsenal to win the league although it does have the small requirement of Manchester United and Chelsea both to loose their remaining two fixtures. Everyone expected goals in this fixture but not as many as it produced.
As you would predict Arsenal were straight out of the blocks and appeared too much for Derby to handle from the off. Nicklas Bendtner opened up the scoring when a mistake from Darren Moore allowed him to walk the ball to the Derby goal.
Against the flow of play Arsenal’s lead was cut short and lasted only 6 minutes. The ball was crossed into the Arsenal area and Jay McEveley was there to find the back of the net from close range.
But it was Arsenal that would lead during the break. On 39 minutes a long ball was played forward and Robin van Persie broke free and controlled the ball perfectly in front of goal. He nearly burst the net with the finish. The Derby defence were left appealing for off side.
At half time not many punters would bet against goals to follow in the second half. Not yet in on the action it was the turn of Emannuel Adebayor who replaced the injured van Persie at half time. It started with a goal mouth scramble and the ball rolled free to Adebayor in space who drilled in Arsenal’s 3rd.
Derby playing for pride at this stage of their campaign struck back. Robert Earnshaw found himself running one on one at the Arsenal keeper and slotted in the perfect finish.
On 78 minutes Theo Walcott netted number 4. He calmly worked the ball to the edge of the Derby area and with no way through the three defenders marking him hit the ball from where he stood and found the top right hand corner of the Derby goal.
In the last 10 minutes of the match 2 more goals from Adebayor would slam the Premiership door in the faces of the already dismissed Derby side. The first started on the wing with a through ball from Clichy picking out Adebayor who was not going to miss the one on one opportunity with Roy Carrol. The next came when keeper Carrol committed himself too early and went to claim a through ball on the edge of his area. Adebayor anticipated the approach and worked the ball round Carrol and played it into the open Goal.
Arsenal playing with the prowess they began their 2008 Premiership campaign with.
Final score Derby 2 Arsenal 6.
