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.
"I said when I came here that we will try to get third place into Europe and that's what we will try to do," said Hearts manager George Burley, who joined the club earlier this month. "But it's always good to get a win in a derby. I said we were short of fitness but we knew there were goals in the team."
Hibernian defender Gary Caldwell sustained a punctured lung and fractured ribs after colliding with his own goalkeeper, Zbigniew Malkowski, after 26 minutes.
On Saturday, Celtic won its first game of the season with a 2-0 win over Dundee United, while Rangers beat Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1-0.
Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd has contacted Real Madrid about signing Michael Owen.
The 25-year-old Owen has slipped to become Real Madrid's fifth striker after the club signed Brazil forwards Julio Baptista and Robinho in the offseason.
"We have had a discussion with Madrid but won't be commenting further on any speculation," Shepherd said Monday in a statement. The deadline for transfers is Aug. 31.
Madrid also acknowledged Newcastle's interest.
"Newcastle are very interested in Owen," Real Madrid spokesman Antonio Garcia Ferreras told Britain's Press Association. "They are following him closely and are showing the most concrete interest.
"However, there are other sides showing an interest, including Manchester United."
Owen said last week he had been in contact with three or four English clubs about a return to the Premier League. Manchester United and Liverpool have shown initial interest, but Arsenal has ruled out a bid for the England striker.
Owen scored 16 goals in his first season with Madrid, but has never cemented a starting position with the club since moving there from Liverpool.
"Mentally, I am preparing for another season with Real and if I do find myself on the bench at the start of the season, I will do everything possible to force my way into the starting 11 and I know I will be given a fair chance to do this," Owen said.
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