Date:23/09/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/09/23/stories/2007092360731900.htm

Sport - Football

Arsenal blanks Derby County

LONDON: Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor grabbed his first hat-trick in English football to help Arsenal crush Derby County 5-0 to go four points clear at the top of the Premier League on Saturday.

The 23-year-old Adebayor struck once in the first half and twice in the second, including a penalty, as the Londoners outclassed promoted Derby at the Emirates Stadium.

Abou Diaby and Cesc Fabregas also netted as Arsenal raced clear of its title rivals with 16 points from six matches.

Diaby opened the scoring for Arsenal with a powerful right-foot shot from 25 metres after only 10 minutes.

Adebayor ran on to a pass from Fabregas to score his first with an individual flourish 16 minutes later and added another from the penalty spot early in the second half after Eduardo da Silva was fouled by Matt Oakley. Fabregas snatched the fourth with a swerving long-range shot before Adebayor competed his treble with another fine goal 11 minutes from time.

The results: Arsenal 5 (Abou Diaby 10th, Emmanuel Adebayor 26th, 50th, 79th; Cesc Fabregas 70th) bt Derby County 0; Liverpool 0 drew with Birmingham City 0; Middlesbrough 2 (Julio Arca 14th, Stewart Downing 67th ) drew with Sunderland 2 (Grant Leadbitter 2nd, Liam Miller 89th); Reading 2 (Dave Kitson 29th, James Harper 90th) bt Wigan Athletic 1 (Marcus Bent 50th). — Agencies