The Premier League schedule doesn't start for another week yet Chelsea looks like its in midseason form by beating Arsenal in the Community Shield.
A pair of Didier Drogba goals gave Chelsea the 2-1 win in the traditional season curtain raiser between the league champion and the FA Cup winner. It also gave Chelsea an edge over Arsenal ahead of their first league meeting on Aug. 21, at Stamford Bridge.
"It was important for both teams to get off to a good start -- and thankfully it's us who have," Chelsea captain John Terry said. "It's been a long time since we beat Arsenal so psychologically it's given us a massive boost."
The clubs drew twice in the league last season. Sunday was only Chelsea's second win over Arsenal since November 1998.
"Maybe we were a bit too confident last season and it became a bit too easy for us," said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who led his side to the 2003-2004 league title without losing a game. "This year we will be on our toes and hungry."
Chelsea is aiming to join Manchester United as the only other club to win consecutive league titles since Liverpool in 1984.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho started his first choice side, with the addition of new leftback Asier Del Horno and also introduced new signing Shaun Wright-Phillips and Hernan Crespo, who spent last season at AC Milan on loan.
"I think you could say Hernan Crespo is responsible for Didier's performance," Mourinho said. "When you have a big player on the sidelines and you have to fight with him for a place, it produces the kind of pressure which is good for players."
Chelsea's first match is at Wigan next Sunday, when Arsenal hosts Newcastle.
Wenger was upbeat after the match, unworried by the loss and impressed by how the younger members of his team have been integrated.
"The result is not too important," he said.
"We have won four Community Shields and no one regards it as a trophy, so I do not mind anymore.
"I think it was a good game, good preparation for the Premiership. You need to keep the ball to be dangerous and we did that and the spirit is very good."
Arsenal pulled a goal back through Cesc Fabregas, an 18-year-old Spaniard who has stepped into the midfield role long held by Patrick Vieira, who joined Juventus last month.
"We have lost many great players in the past and miss all of them," Wenger said. ``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."
Along with Fabregas, Wenger started 20-year-old defender Philippe Senderos and put Robin van Persie on a substitute. Van Persie spent two weeks in a Dutch jail in June on rape charges and is still under investigation. New midfielder Alexander Hleb also made an appearance.
Hearts beat Hibernian 4-0 Sunday in the Edinburgh derby to go top of the after two rounds.
Rudi Skacel (12th), Paul Hartley (58th, pen), Stephen Simmons (71st) and Saulius Mikoliunas (83rd) scored for Hearts, which moves ahead of defending champion Rangers on goal difference. Both clubs are on six points. Celtic is third with four points.
Hibernian manager Tony Mowbray watched the second half from the stands after being sent off by referee Stuart Dougal. Mowbray had argued with fourth official Alan Freeland over a challenge by Hearts striker Roman Bednar on Hibs defender David Murphy.
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