Derby County 2-6 Arsenal: Fabregas refuses to give up on title after rout of Rams

Published on Tuesday 29 April 2008 01:02

Derby County 2 McEveley (31), Earnshaw (77) Arsenal 6 Bendtner (25), Van Persie (39), Adebayor (59, 81, 90), Walcott (78)

CESC Fabregas still believes Arsenal could snatch the Barclays Premier League title after their thumping victory over relegated Derby last night.

The result took the Gunners to within four points of Chelsea and Manchester United with two games remaining.

Fabregas said: "Nothing is impossible. We have to win the last two games and then we'll see. We are not the favourites, but you never know."

The Gunners made sure of third spot with a rousing second-half display against the relegated Rams, who moved a step closer to being named the Premier League's worst ever side. Arsenal could count themselves fortunate to lead 2-1 at the break, with Nicklas Bendtner and Robin van Persie scoring either side of a Jay McEveley effort.

Theo Walcott was on target too, but the second half belonged to Emmanuel Adebayor, who came off the bench to score a hat-trick and to take his season's tally to 30. Derby's Rob Earnshaw grabbed a consolation in this eight-goal thriller.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was more cautious than Fabregas, insisting the Gunners "need a miracle" to claim the title. "Probable, no. Possible, yes," he said. "But we've set ourselves an 83-point target. We can get to 80 against Everton so let's do it."

Derby: Carroll, Todd, Moore, Stubbs, McEveley, Mears, Savage, Ghaly (Feilhaber 60), Lewis, Villa, Sterjovski (Earnshaw 69). Subs not used: Price, Edworthy, Beardsley.

Arsenal: Fabianski, Toure (Djourou 78), Gallas, Song Billong, Clichy, Eboue, Fabregas, Denilson (Silva 64), Walcott, Van Persie (Adebayor 46), Bendtner. Subs not used: Almunia, Senderos.

Referee: A Marriner.

Attendance: 33,003.