Premiership: Gunners fired up to keep euro rivals at bay

Derby County 1-2 Arsenal

Arsene Wenger claimed it was no coincidence that three of the teams scrambling for a Champions League place clinched important victories in the closing minutes today.

Robert Pires netted with his first touch at Pride Park to add to Kanu’s opener and provide a 2-1 win over Derby.

Stefano Eranio’s header on the stroke of half-time had threatened to thwart the Gunners in the quest for all three points but they remain in second place, four points ahead of Leeds and Ipswich.

The Yorkshire club had closed the gap between themselves and Wenger’s men to a single point earlier in the day with two late goals themselves and Liverpool only completed their victory at Coventry near the death.

‘‘You look at the other teams and it shows that extra motivation getting close to the end of the season,’’ said the Arsenal boss.

‘‘Everyone won in the last 10 minutes Leeds, Liverpool, Arsenal and that special motivation makes the difference.

‘‘We knew today was important and we needed a victory because Ipswich were just one point behind us as well before the start and we knew that mentally it’s important now not to fade.’’

The introduction of Thierry Henry was only passed fit this morning after a calf problem and Pires turned the match.

‘‘It’s always good to have quality on the bench,’’ added Wenger.

‘‘We dominated the first half and expected to go in with a 1-0 advantage. Their goal was a big blow and the team was quite down at half-time.’’

Derby boss Jim Smith remains confident that his side will survive and reckons just one draw from their final two games will confirm their Premiership status.

‘‘I’m mildly concerned. We might have enough with 38 points but we can’t rely on it and it will go right to the wire,’’ he said.

‘‘It’s possibly one more point but with regards to today I don’t think the lads could have given us much more than they did.’’

Mixed results elsewhere mean that Manchester City would need four points from their final two matches and Derby to lose both theirs against Manchester United and Ipswich or Coventry to win twice and the Rams lose both for the Midlands club to drop into the Nationwide League.

‘‘Manchester City have got to go to Ipswich and then they play Chelsea at home,’’ said Smith.

‘‘They are similar types of fixtures to ours and they have to win and draw.’’