Chelski steamroller Gunners (Chelsea 2 Arsenal 1)

Didier Drogba struck twice to give the Premiership champions a 2-1 victory over Arsenal in the Community Shield at the Millennium Stadium on Sunday. The Ivory Coast international brushed aside Arsenal's Phillipe Senderos in the 8th minute to collect a long ball from Asier Del-Horno and slot Chelsea in front.

The goal stunned Arsenal, who came into the game with an heir of confidence after lifting the Amsterdam torment in Holland last Sunday. As Arsenal pressed for equality throughout the half, Kolo Toure came agonizingly close to restoring parity with a 25 yard shot which was quite brilliantly tipped round the post by Chelsea's "panther like" Goalkeeper Peter Cech.

Ljungberg was also a constant threat down the right hand side of Midfield, he sent a 30 yard shot into the side netting, which Cech seemed content to watch roll the wrong side of the post.

Chelsea meanwhile, were giving Arsenal a taste of their own medicine. Typically in past meetings between the two sides it was Arsenal who seemed content to sit back and hit the opposition on the break, but Chelsea were executing the trick to a tee. Arjen Robban was giving Senderos and Cole a headache on the left hand side of midfield, and the Dutch winger thought he had won a penalty when he went down under Senderos' challenge inside the box. Howard Webb waved play on, however.

As the first-half ended with Arsenal largely the dominant force, the seond began with much of the same. Arsenal made three changes, Van Persie came on to replace the unusually anonymous Bergkamp, Silva came on for a labored looking Pires, and new signing Hleb replaced the industrious Flamini. With Arsenal setting a dominant tempo at the start of the second half, one would have expected the a Gunners' equalizer to be the inevitable outcome. Not so. With 33 minutes remaining, Drogba stuck again. Gudjohnsen flicked the ball into the path of the Ivorian, and despite seemingly desperate recovery tackles from Lauren and Senderos, Drogba showed impeccable composure to slam the ball into the room of the net with Lehmann stranded.

The goal all but killed off any Arsenal hope of winning the match, but there was still time for the FA Cup winners to register a goal, Fabregas pounced after confusion in the Chelsea penalty area via good work from Ljungberg on the right wing. Despite a slight resurgence from the Gunners, a series of substitutions followed, which disrupted the flow of the game and subsequently stifled Arsenal's rhythm and chances of getting back into the match.

All in all, a good work out for both teams. Chelsea will be pleased with Drogba, who seems set to answer his critics this season and adopt to Mourinho's lone striker formation, and the Londoners will also be happy with new signing Shaun Wright Phillips, and a rejuvenated Hernan Crespo, who both impressed after coming on as substitutes in the second half. As for Arsenal, they have a lot to ponder before their opening day test against Newcastle, not forgetting round two against Chelsea in a fortnight's time at Stanford Bridge.


Arsenal Manager Arsene Wenger:

"What is important is to focus on the quality we have."

"We have lost many great players in the past and miss all of them.

"But life goes on and you have to look at what is in front you - and I think the future is bright.

"Our younger players will be better this year, they will improve and we have a lot so we can only be better.

"Maybe we were a bit too confident last season and it became a bit too easy for us.

"This year we will be on our toes and hungry."


Chelsea Manager Jose Mourinho:

"Didier was great the way he scored the goals"

"The first goal changed the game and it was more difficult for them and if the quality of our last pass, the penetration pass was better, we would have scored more goals.

"It was a good game, especially for this moment, and the quality of the game will make everyone think we can have a good Premiership."


Chelsea: Cech, Paulo Ferreira, Gallas, Terry, Del Horno, Makelele, Lampard (Geremi 90), Duff (Joe Cole 74), Robben (Wright-Phillips 69), Drogba (Crespo 59), Gudjohnsen (Tiago 58).Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Ricardo Carvalho.
Booked: Makelele, Lampard.
Goals: Drogba 8, 57.

Arsenal: Lehmann, Lauren (Hoyte 78), Toure, Senderos (Cygan 72), Cole, Ljungberg (Reyes 72), Fabregas, Flamini (Hleb 45), Pires (Silva 45), Bergkamp (Van Persie 45), Henry.Subs Not Used: Howard.
Booked: Fabregas.
Goals: Fabregas 65.

Att: 58,014.

Ref: Howard Webb (England).

(Team info/Match reaction provided by www.bbc.co.uk/football)