Arsenal 5-0 Derby County

The eventual ease at which Arsenal dispatched Sevilla on Wednesday had been diminished somewhat by the furore surrounding the departure of another of the Premiership’s big names; just as Derby County’s first three points of the new campaign had been overlooked as a significant result in their inevitable relegation battle. The victory over Newcastle led Billy Davies to deploy the same eleven for their visit to the Emirates Stadium- his counterpart opting to rotate his squad after midweek exertions. The world-weary Gilberto was once again rested in favour of Mathieu Flamini, while Alex Hleb’s absence through injury gave Theo Walcott the chance on the right for the home side. Yet another injury to Tomas Rosicky saw Abou Diaby start on the left, while Eduardo Da Silva replaced Robin Van Persie as Emmanuel Adebayor’s strike partner. Derby’s surprisingly adventurous 4-4-2 meant that Stephen Howard would provide the aerial threat alongside Kenny Miller. The away side looked keen to avoid another away capitulation after losing 6-0 and 4-0 at Anfield and White Hart Lane respectively, while Arsenal were looking to extend their early lead at the top of the table.

Gael Clichy demonstrated his burgeoning understanding of the game with an unerring interception after just four minutes to offer Arsenal’s first opportunity to score. Seizing on a moment’s hesitancy from Tyrone Mears, he surged into the area and drove a low pass across the area to Adebayor, who sliced his shot well wide from an offside position. The home side were finding space as Derby tried to impose themselves upon the game- some slick build-up play lading to a tepid cross easily picked up by Manuel Almunia, before Cesc Fabregas found Diaby with the freedom of the left wing at his disposal. So often this season Diaby has looked raw and a little haphazard with possession, but encouraged by the space afforded him, he charged at the Derby back four. Cutting inside onto his right foot not once but twice, the young French international eventually forged the prerequisite space to hammer a fierce shot past the helpless Stephen Bywater via the right-hand post. An excellent opener to the game, Wenger’s decision to persist with Diaby in a somewhat alien position seemed vindicated.

Failing to learn from their previous mistake, an unperturbed Derby forced Diaby back inside on his right foot again in an almost identical scenario that led to the first goal. This time Diaby couldn’t get the lift required and dragged his shot at Bywater. The away side had immediately tried to push forward and maintain their high tempo, but their efforts were being repelled and both Adebayor and Eduardo were drifting into dangerous amounts of space. A scuffed clearance saw Walcott the beneficiary of Derby’s open play, his explosive speed taking him into the penalty area before being brushed off the ball by Davis- the type of contact was contentious as neither player was shoulder to shoulder, although Walcott seemed inclined to go for the penalty appeal as opposed to a second goal.

Derby continued to display a refreshing desire to attack, until Clichy once again intercepted and found Arsenal’s playmaker in chief Cesc Fabregas. Given time and space to size up his options, the Spaniard lofted a looping through ball in-between the Derby central defenders and onto the chest of Adebayor. Rounding Bywater with languid ease, the man that had tormented Tottenham a week before calmly put Arsenal two ahead, and Derby’s tactical gamble was threatening to leave them ruthlessly exposed. Reminiscent of the much vaunted 2003/04 Arsenal side, the home side were looking frighteningly efficient on the break, albeit against a team that were rapidly looking a little naive. Eduardo’s inability to emulate the incision of his teammates seemed to manifest itself, as he was booked after a late challenge after half an hour. Derby County admirably continued to play, but were having moderate spells of possession without really threatening to get back into the game.

Walcott and Fabregas offered evidence of the difference between the two teams as they combined with a fluid one-two minutes before half time: the former disappointingly firing straight at Bywater when there were other options in the box. Once again Arsenal were confounding their detractors. Eduardo continued to chase his goal, an intelligent shift of poise leaving his marker floundering before having his shot blocked. Fabregas’ subsequent corner saw the Croatian cannon a downward header goal ward, only for Bywater to deny him again. The last meaningful action of the first half, Derby had perhaps demonstrated exactly why so many visitors to the Emirates Stadium elect for a defensive line-up- the home side had exposed the weakness of Derby’s offensive game plan in clinical fashion.

Derby began the second half in a similarly myopic mood. Adebayor and Diaby’s passing and movement was once again too deft for the Derby defence- Adebayor’s strong run into the area saw the ball break to Eduardo and then Kolo Toure in space- the former was clearly pulled to the ground by Matthew Oakley and a penalty was the result. Adebayor’s composed finish was another stark lesson for the visiting side, which despite showing commendable attacking drive were leaving all the space Arsenal needed. Kolo Toure decided to run forward into one such void, this time in Derby’s midfield. Drawing the opposition out to challenge him, the Arsenal captain laid the ball forward to Fabregas, whose attempt to play in Adebayor eventually saw him cross the ball across the Derby box. Toure’s run had since continued, and his subsequent header sailed wide- a poor finish to a move he so purposefully started. Howard showed similar determination for Derby as he struck two long-range shots wide and into Almunia’s arms, in-between which Walcott showed exceptional pace and poise to fly past two defenders and thrash his shot off another.

With the result in no doubt, Wenger’s substitutes were warming up. Seemingly aware of this, Cesc Fabregas picked the ball up outside the box from Eduardo’s lay-off, and lifted the ball into the far corner in what is fast becoming his trademark. As with Paul Robinson the week before, Stephen Bywater’s trailing hand was futile as the strength of the shot made it 4-0- the joy on the Spaniard’s face mirrored by his manager as his impressive goalscoring run continued, evidence of a twenty year-old already at the top of his game. Content with his goal, Fabregas was replaced by Lassana Diarra, while Brazilian teenager Denilson substituted Theo Walcott. Gilles Barnes marked his comeback from injury by entering the fray minutes later, while Alex Song made the next cameo appearance for the home team.

A despondent Derby were slumping to another resounding away defeat, and it was worsened further when Adebayor simply brushed aside his marker, leaving him with a straightforward attempt to claim his hat trick. Possessing the pace that has always been a Wenger hallmark, the Togo international’s strength and power have given Arsenal a new weapon. Fast emerging from Thierry Henry’s shadow it appears that Adebayor is threatening to cast a towering one of his own. 5-0 and Arsenal were moving clear at the top of the table- Derby County left with the knowledge that they have more important fixtures imminent. Although Derby had showed more attacking intent than Arsenal fans are used to from their visitors, Arsenal had once again shown that the impotent over-elaboration of last season has been replaced by a drive and efficient determination- no longer are they looking for figures that have since departed. While much tougher challenges remain, previous fallen hurdles are being rapidly negotiated by Wenger’s new team, which bodes well for the season ahead.