Emmanuel Adebayor's hat-trick helped Arsenal thrash Derby County 5-0 at Emirates Stadium to maintain their position on top of the Premiership table on Saturday. A thunderous shot into the top corner by Abou Diaby put the Gunners ahead after 10 minutes. Togolese towering striker Adebayor doubled the lead in the 26th minute when he chested Cesc Fabregas ball and rounded the keeper before slotting into an empty net. The former Monaco man killed off Derby hopes five minutes after restart when he converted a penalty after Eduardo da Silva was pulled down by Matt Oakley inside the area. The in-form Fabregas added the fourth in the 70th minute through a powerful shot before Adebayor completed the rout nine minutes later. Arsenal are in charge of the league table with 16 points, four ahead of second-placed Liverpool who were held by Birmingham in the Reds' second successive goalless draw in the Premiership.
Middlesbrough Elsewhere, Liam Miller's last-gasp strike earned Sunderland a 2-2 draw at Mido's Middlesbrough. Michael Chopra gave the visitors the lead after just 75 minutes before Julio Arca equalized for Boro on the quarter hour mark. England winger Stewart Downing added the second for the hosts in the 67th minute but Miller stunned the home crowd one minute from time to give Sunderland a precious draw. Mido was included in the starting line-up but suffered an injury late in the first-half. However, he was able to carry on until the final whistle. Newly-arrived midfielder Mohamed Shawky is yet to make his debut with Middlesbrough.
