Substitute Emmanuel Adebayor struck his second hat-trick against Derby this season as Arsenal ran riot at Pride Park.

The Gunners, 5-0 winners at the Emirates Stadium earlier in the season, made sure of third spot with a rousing second-half performance against the relegated Rams, who moved a step closer to being named the Premier League's worst ever side.

Arsene Wenger's side could count themselves fortunate to lead 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 Arsenal's Togo international who struck three times to take his season's tally to 30, with Rob Earnshaw grabbing a consolation in this eight-goal thriller.

Wenger handed a first league start to goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski, while Denilson, Bendtner and Emmanuel Eboue were all drafted in.

Paul Jewell made changes of his own, recalling McEveley, Emanuel Villa and Darren Moore as he went in search of a maiden league win as Rams boss.

A heavy downpour prior to kick-off seemed certain to play into the visitors' hands, adding extra zip to the Pride Park pitch.

But it was not to be the case as the relegated Rams, now 30 league games without a victory, began the more purposefully.

New assistant boss Chris Hutchings had insisted upon his arrival that a win was his one and only objective between now and the end of the campaign, and County were certainly setting about giving him what he wanted.

Villa only just failed to connect with Tyrone Mears' inviting low cross before Mile Sterjovski's drive took a major deflection off Alex Song beyond the wrong-footed Fabianski, only for the ball to creep past the right post.

It was hardly the start Wenger would have hoped for as the Gunners struggled to find their rhythm and they could count themselves fortunate when Villa's bullet header flew just over.

But the Rams paid for their profligacy in the 25th minute when Moore's mistake gave the ball to Bendtner, who played a one-two with Van Persie, before coolly slotting the ball into the left corner.

And soon Derby had the equaliser they deserved.

Robbie Savage's inswinging free-kick landed on the six-yard line and McEveley reacted first to hook home.

Fabregas extended Carroll with a ferocious shot from the edge of the area and the ball was cleared.

But the defensive deficiencies that have blighted Jewell's side were apparent again when Van Persie had all the time in the world to chest down Kolo Toure's floated pass and volley home in style.

It was a goal which had all the hallmarks of his compatriot, Gunners legend Dennis Bergkamp.

The goal proved to be the striker's final telling act of the game as he was replaced by Adebayor after the break.

Derby's brave first-half performance appeared to have taken its toll as the Gunners' pace and movement began to stretch tiring legs.

Twice Toure, again playing at right-back, fired over, the second opportunity created by Fabregas' brilliant backheel.

Again the Rams had Carroll to thank in the 58th minute when he saved superbly with his feet from Adebayor.

But there was nothing he could do to deny the Togo international a minute later.

Walcott took full advantage of Stubbs' slip to cut the ball back to Eboue, who gave Adebayor the simplest of finishes.

Walcott should have made it four when he was slid through by Bendtner but the teenager's indifferent finishing was again apparent as he fired wide.

By now it was looking all too easy for the Gunners as they created chances at will.

But the Rams reduced the deficit to just a single goal with effectively their first attack of the second period, substitute Rob Earnshaw opening his right foot up to stroke beyond Fabianski.

Yet within a minute the two-goal cushion was restored, Gael Clichy pinging a pinpoint pass to Walcott wide on the left before the youngster cut inside and curled into the top-right corner.

Adebayor grabbed another poacher's goal, sliding to convert another Clichy assist with 10 minutes remaining before he wrapped up his hat-trick from an acute angle in added time.

Teams:

Derby Carroll, Todd, Moore, Stubbs, McEveley, Mears, Savage, Ghaly (Feilhaber 60), Lewis, Villa, Sterjovski (Earnshaw 69).

Subs Not Used: Price, Edworthy, Beardsley.

Goals: McEveley 31, Earnshaw 77.

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.

Goals: Bendtner 25, Van Persie 39, Adebayor 59, Walcott 78,

Adebayor 81, 90.

Att: 33,003

Ref: Andre Marriner (W Midlands).