But the Gunners took the lead on 10 minutes when Diaby sidestepped two challenges on the edge of the penalty area before firing an unstoppable rising drive into the top corner of the net.

Arsenal's free-flowing football was a joy to watch and Derby were finding it difficult to hold the hosts at bay.

In the 23rd minute Arsenal almost opened up the Rams for a second time when Adebayor got on the end of a long ball from Kolo Toure. But the tall striker could not get a firm strike on the ball and it was collected easily by Stephen Bywater. The home side looked dangerous with every attack and the Premier League newcomers struggled with the pace of the game.

Adebayor made it two to Arsenal in the 25th minute when he latched on to a pass from Fabregas and ran clear of the Derby defence. The Arsenal striker then rounded Bywater and slotted the ball home. Derby, hammered 6-0 by Liverpool earlier this month, were seemingly out of their depth yet again. Adebayor was a constant threat and in the 35th minute he almost turned provider for Eduardo. This time his cross was just too far for the Arsenal striker to control and the chance went abegging.

Fabregas was controlling the midfield and in the 32nd minute he put Theo Walcott through on goal but the England youngster fired straight at Bywater who managed to grab the ball at the second attempt.

The half-time whistle gave the visitors some much-needed relief after a first half dominated by Wenger's team.

Derby's plight worsened four minutes after the re-start when County captain Matt Oakley was punished for pulling back Eduardo inside the penalty area by referee Martin Atkinson. Adebayor stepped up to take the spotkick and made no mistake for his second goal of the game.

Derby had their first real effort of the game on the hour when a shot from centre-forward Steve Howard whistled past the post. With 20 minutes remaining Fabregas scored Arsenal's fourth with a crisp right-foot drive from 20 yards . . . it was just reward for a tremendous midfield performance.

But the rout was not over and Adebayor made sure of his treble in the 80th minute as he kept his composure to sidefoot home from eight yards.