Pires strike takes Arsenal to the top

Arsenal 1 Derby County

Arsenal did their bit in defeating Derby County last night to move two points ahead of Manchester United at the top of the Premiership, and must now hope against hope for some assistance today from Tottenham Hotspur and the Football Association.

Spurs will for once have the whole of North London behind them as they travel to Old Trafford, after the FA's disciplinary commission has decided how seriously to punish Thierry Henry for his rant at the referee following Arsenal's home game against Newcastle on 18 December which brought their last defeat, 17 matches ago.

There was never any danger of that run ending last night and, for all Derby's new-found spirit under John Gregory, the margin of victory should have been higher. Dennis Bergkamp and the three musketeers, Robert Pires, Henry and Sylvain Wiltord, performed all their tricks, but neglected to apply the coup de grâce until Pires ended the growing frustration in the 69th minute.

Henry might have had a hat-trick to see him through what is likely to be a suspension including at least Saturday's FA Cup quarter-final at Newcastle and the next league game, away to Aston Villa. Arsenal's manager Arsène Wenger did not feel that his leading scorer had today's date on his mind, despite a couple of uncharacteristic misses from close range, and was confident that a goal would come after a positive reaction from the players to a sluggish start.

"It shows we've improved because at the beginning of the season we didn't have the concentration to hold out for this kind of score'' he said.

"It's a relief to be top psychologically. Two or three times we've had home games when we could have gone top and haven't won. The championship is in our own hands.''

Derby's concerns are very different ­ and Blackburn's victory last night did them no favours. Their manager, John Gregory, declined to whinge about having to play twice in little more than 48 hours after the exertions of Sunday's exciting draw against Manchester United. "We nearly matched Arsenal and were just a little unlucky'' he said. "We definitely grew tired, but the fitness level at our club is not as good as it should be."

Despite missing the injured Fabrizio Ravanelli, the visitors showed few signs of battle fatigue in the first half, covering tenaciously in the face of some sharp movement off the ball and breaking out whenever possible without managing to test David Seaman until just before the interval. Henry, advised perhaps to be on his best behaviour, did well to restrain himself after being denied a penalty in Arsenal's first attack, but two thumping headers from Sol Campbell were the closest they came in the first half-hour.

Although Andy Oakes then made excellent saves from a deflection off Danny Higginbotham and a fierce Wiltord volley, the traffic was not entirely in one direction. The Frenchman's effort followed immediately from Derby's one real opportunity of the game, Lee Morris putting Malcolm Christie in for a shot smartly blocked by Seaman.

Soon after the interval, Bergkamp, looking suspiciously offside, crossed a fraction high for Henry, who volleyed over the bar from the edge of the six-yard box. Undismayed, Henry swept inside two defenders before whipping a shot against the inside of a post, with Oakes just ­ and painfully ­ beating Ray Parlour to the rebound.

Gregory sent on fresh legs in the shape of Brian O'Neil and François Grenet to help Derby's hard-pressed midfield. Their duties were mainly defensive as Arsenal continued to press and finally scored 21 minutes from time. Another deft touch by Bergkamp put Pires through to register his 11th goal of a spectacular season.

The Dutchman, hitting Wiltord's centre straight at the goalkeeper, and Henry, shooting wildly over when clean through, might have settled matters and avoided a nervous last few minutes before Highbury could celebrate reaching the top of the Premiership tree for the first time since mid-September. On that occasion they stayed there for only 24 hours and Tottenham's help will be required to ensure that the same does not happen tonight.

Gregory, having come up against the two leading contenders for the title in the space of three days, said: "It will be close, but my money would be on Manchester United.''

Arsenal (4-4-2): Seaman 6; Lauren 6, Stepanovs 6, Campbell 7, Luzhny 4 (Dixon 5, h-t); Wiltord 7 (Edu, 80), Vieira 6, Parlour 6, Pires 8; Bergkamp 8, Henry 7. Substitutes not used: Wright (gk), Kanu, Grimandi.

Derby County (4-4-2): Oakes 7; Barton 5, Riggott 7, Higginbotham 5, Zavagno 5; Kinkladze 5 (Grenet 6, 55), Lee 5 (O'Neil 6, 55), Morris 6, Boertien 5; Christie 6, Strupar 4 (Valakari 4, 69). Substitutes not used: Foletti (gk), Elliott.

Referee: G Barber (Tring) 5.