TWO GOAL Ian Wright and Dennis Bergkamp spoilt the farewell party at a windswept Baseball Ground. The deadly duo's one two three blast for Arsenal meant that Derby's 102 year tenure at the stadium ended with a whimper rather than a bang.
But it was a case of too little, too late for the Gunners who were edged out by high scoring Newcastle in the battle for the second Champions' League spot. Arsenal instead will have to be content with a place in the UEFA Cup next season alongside Aston Villa, Liverpool and Coca Cola Cup winners Leicester.
But manager Arsene Wenger will have been delighted to end his first season with a win as Arsenal played for 77 minutes with only 10 men - captain Tony Adams was given his marching orders in the 13th minute after committing his second bookable offence.
By then, Derby were already ahead through Ashley Ward and played the more composed foot ball in the opening period with wing back Gary Rowell in outstanding form.
Ward, indeed, had enough clearcut chances to have killed off Arsenal, who looked shaky in the air at the back, before Wright and Bergkamp changed the picture, Wright's double blast meaning that he reached the 30 goal mark for the campaign.
Derby made a dream start and went ahead in the ninth minute when Ward headed in a cross from Aljosa Asanovic after his initial effort cannoned off a post. Adams had already been booked for a rash challenge on Asanovic and in the 13th minute he was sent off after bringing down Darryl Powell.
Derby continued to look the more composed and threatening and Arsenal goalkeeper David Seaman saved a low drive from Asanovic.
Bergkamp almost equalised when his low drive was turned around the post one handed by Martin Poom. But it was Ward who had the chances to virtually kill off the game by half time.
However, Derby paid the price for such generosity when Arsenal equalised in the 55th minute.
The Derby keeper was unable to hold a low shot from Nikolas Anelka and Wright nipped in to tuck away his 29th goal of the season.
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/YVIRIOZQ35EWRPZXR27KGMO6YU.png)