Arsenal 5 – 0 Derby: Absent friends can’t halt faultless Arsenal
Add comment September 23rd, 2007
Emmanuel Adebayor scored the first hatrick at the Emirates Stadium to fire Arsenal to a thrashing of lowly Derby County. His treble, characterised by awesome pace and power, was supplemented by two wonder strikes from Abou Diaby and Cesc Fabregas.
It was Diaby who opened the scoring. Cutting in from the left-flank, he skipped past two challenges before hitting an absolute screamer into the far top corner. Our own private Goal of the Month competition continues.
Before half-time, it was two nil. Adebayor, who had earlier missed a good chance to sidefoot home a Gael Clichy cross, was released over the top by a stunning Cesc Fabregas ball. As the hapless Stephen Bywater charged out, Adebayor skipped round him to walk the ball into an empty net.
Derby couldn’t handle our attacking players, particularly Adebayor, and it was no surprise when the third arrived. Eduardo was tugged back in the area and the Togolese stroked home a penalty. As Bywater later said after getting a hand to it, “He must have the strongest sidefoot in the country”.
As Arsene prepared to withdraw Cesc Fabregas, the Spaniard glanced at the stripped Denilson and Diarra on the sidelines, and knew it was his last chance to score. He duly delivered, smashing in a sixth goal in consecutive games – his seventh of the season. It’s jaw-dropping form, and makes him the early favourite for Footballer of the Year.
The rout was completed in the 79th minute. Adebayor’s performance had meant a hatrick was always on the cards, and when Denilson launched a long ball towards the striker, he majestically chested it down before calmly side-footing past Bywater.
A fantastic win, achieved without Gallas, Gilberto, Hleb, Rosicky, and Van Persie. It’s a list of absentees as impressive as the scoreline itself.
I’ve got to dash, but here are the goals and here’s Arsene’s reaction. More tomorrow.
