deflection off Alex Song to wrong-foot goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski , making his first league start for Arsenal , only for the ball to creep past the right-hand post . The Gunners struggled to find their rhythm early on and were fortunate not to go behind when Villa 's bullet header flew just over . Derby were made to pay for those early misses when Darren Moore 's 25th minute mistake presented the ball to Niklas Bendtner , who played a one-two with Robin Van Persie before coolly slotting the ball into the left corner . However , Derby soon scored the equalizer they deserved . Robbie Savage 's inswinging free-kick landed on the six-yard line and Jay McEveley reacted first to hook the ball home . The home side 's joy was short-lived though , when Derby 's defensive frailties were exposed again as Van Persie as given all the time in the world to chest down Kolo Toure 's floated pass and volley home in style . Adebayor replaced Van Persie for the second-half and Arsenal immediately looked intent on adding to their goals tally . Twice Kolo Toure , playing at right-back , fired over , the second
DERBY , England -- Substitute Emmanuel Adebayor struck his second hat-trick against Derby this season as Arsenal ran riot with a 6-2 Premier League victory at Pride Park . Arsenal players celebrate Robin Van Persie 's goal in their comfortable 6-2 victory over Derby . The Gunners , 5-0 winners at The Emirates earlier in the season , made sure of third place in the table with a rousing second-half display against relegated Derby , who move closer to being the Premier League 's worst-ever side . Arsene Wenger 's side led 2-1 at the break after goals from Nicklas Bendtner and Robin van Persie either side of a Jay McEveley effort . Theo Walcott was on target too , but the second half belonged to Togo international striker Adebayor , who struck three times to take his season 's tally to 30 in all competitions , with Rob Earnshaw grabbing a consolation for the hosts in this eight-goal thriller . Bottom side Derby , now 30 league games without a victory , began the more purposefully and Emanuel Villa only just failed to connect Tyrone Mears ' inviting low cross . Then Mile Sterjovski 's drive took a major