The tension of the title race got to even the normally placid Arsene Wenger as
his Arsenal side edged their way nervously past Derby and back to the top of the
Premiership table.
What started out as a casual stroll in the sun after Nicolas Anelka had given
the Gunners the lead after just 15 minutes turned into a desperate
backs-to-the-wall rearguard action.
With just a couple of minutes left Derby striker Paolo Wanchope broke clear
and his shot was only blocked by the huge, imposing frame of goalkeeper David
Seaman.
As substitute Marvin Robinson placed a follow-up effort wide of the unguarded
goal, Wenger was off his feet on the touchline, livid with anger at his
increasingly complacent side.
For after powering 11 goals past Wimbledon and Middlesbrough in their previous
two games, Tony Adams' pre-match warning that it was "time to come back down to
earth" proved worryingly correct for the champions.
Almost a year ago to the day, Arsenal had gloriously swept to the Premiership
title with victory against Everton - but this performance proved that they face
a far tougher task this time around.
On paper at least, this game had the makings of a certain home banker, but
despite an abject first-half display Derby proved that they were far from Rams
to the slaughter in the closing stages.
The visitors even played three men up front from the start and had two early
attempts on goal.
But Patrick Vieira, who dominated the midfield with a series of surging runs
and robust challenges, provided the first real threat with a drive that skimmed
the top of the bar from 30 yards out as Arsenal took charge.
A sublime cross-field ball by the Frenchman set Lee Dixon away on the overlap
but the Gunners did not capitalise until a couple of minutes later when Ray
Parlour enabled Anelka to beat the offside trap by a matter of millimetres.
The Frenchman instinctively shot first time on the turn and the ball sped
unerringly into the far corner of the net.
Thereafter Arsenal indulged in a masterclass of pass-and-move, with Nigel
Winterburn rampaging down the left flank and the irrepressible Nwankwo Kanu
displaying the whole range of his trickery.
Even Steve Bould entered into the spirit of things as he brought the ball out
of defence with aplomb.
But for all their overwhelming possession the Gunners almost became lulled
into over-confidence in the sultry conditions.
Kanu claimed a penalty after tangling with Kevin Harper - an early replacement
for Deon Burton - Emmanuel Petit and Parlour drove just wide, while Marc
Overmars allowed the ball to run over the goalline as he dithered over whether
to take a touch before shooting.
However, it was more Serie A showmanship than Premiership blood and guts as
Derby, who only threatened when Wanchope shot into the side-netting, survived
until the break without conceding another goal.
Arsenal adopted the same languid approach after the interval with only
Parlour's urgency down the right setting up Kanu, whose shot appeared to strike
the arm of Rory Delap but referee Neale Barry waved away appeals for a penalty.
Anelka also had an effort cleared by Harper from near the goalline after Kanu
had enjoyed all the time in the world to lay the ball back to his strike
partner, while Bould's header deflected just wide.
Again Derby's attacking threat was restricted to isolated snap-shots by
Stefano Eranio and Darryl Powell, but the hour-mark signalled the arrival of
Dennis Bergkamp for Kanu to a tumultuous welcome.
Bould headed just over the top soon afterwards yet by now even Arsenal's
attractive build-up play had deserted them as the game drifted somewhat
listlessly.
Overmars revived the crowd with a surging run only to fall over as he tried to
shoot from a tight angle on the edge of the six-yard box.
And when he then cut inside to feed compatriot Bergkamp the Dutchman's legs
appeared to be taken away from him by Powell, although referee Barry again took
no action.
Overmars was replaced soon afterwards by Stephen Hughes, with Kaba Diawara
also on for Anelka, while the Derby substitutions continued apace.
That signalled Derby's late fightback which came close to costing Arsenal
dearly as first Wanchope had the ball in the net with 10 minutes left only for
it to be ruled out for deliberate handball by the striker in the build-up.
Then came a tremendous overhead kick by Tony Adams to deny Wanchope as the
nerves took hold before Seaman's brilliant block.
Parlour, who had been his side's outstanding performer, may have forced Mart
Poom into a reaction save in the dying seconds but it was with a huge measure of
relief that Highbury greeted the final whistle.
The all-important three points had been secured - but beware, far tougher
tests await them this season, especially in the form of George Graham's
Tottenham and David O'Leary's Leeds.
Teams:
Arsenal: Seaman, Dixon, Bould, Adams, Winterburn, Parlour,
Vieira, Petit, Overmars (Hughes 76), Kanu (Bergkamp 62),Anelka (Diawara 78).
Subs Not Used: Grimandi, Lukic.
Goals: Anelka 14.
Derby: Poom, Carbonari, Laursen, Bohinen (Murray 68), Powell,
Burton (Harper 13), Eranio, Delap, Beck, Wanchope, Prior,Harper (Robinson 78).
Subs Not Used: Jackson, Knight.
Booked: Delap, Carbonari, Murray, Wanchope.
Att: 37,323
Ref: N Barry (Scunthorpe).
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