But how did the other players perform in the season’s traditional curtain-raiser - TheFA.com takes a closer look.

ARSENAL

Jens Lehmann: Aside from Drogba’s goals the German international had a relatively quiet time. Was alert to clear the danger as Hernan Crespo looked to have got through on goal and looked composed throughout.

Ashley Cole: Managed to keep Robben fairly quiet in the first half, and as Arsenal began to push for an equaliser he added an extra dimension in an attacking capacity. Was exposed on only a couple of occasions.

Philippe Senderos: Following exemplary performances last season, Senderos today struggled to cope with the physical presence of Drogba. The young Frenchman was out-muscled by Drogba for both of his goals.

Kolo Toure: A solid performance, although it was a deflection from his head that set Didier Drogba on his way for Chelsea’s second. Came within a whisker of putting Arsenal in the lead at the end of the first half.

Lauren: The Arsenal right-back got down the right well and kept Duff quiet for the most part. A nice interchange with Ljungberg and Bergkamp led to a dangerous ball across the middle, but Arsenal could not capitalise.

Robert Pires: By his standards Pires had a fairly quiet opening to the game, but his presence grew as the first half progressed. Ghosted past Chelsea new-boy Asier del Horno but was subbed off at half-time.

Freddie Ljungberg: Freddie worked well with Bergkamp in the first half down the Arsenal right. Having been played in by Lauren his cross was converted by Fabregas to keep Arsenal in the match.

Cesc Fabregas: Involved in much of Arsenal’s play going forward and finished nicely past Petr Cech in the second half - something which seems an increasingly hard task.

Mathieu Flamini: Quiet first half for the French midfielder. Had some nice touches as Arsenal pushed forward but was replaced by Gilberto at half-time.

Dennis Bergkamp: Some sublime touches from the Dutch master in the first half, but the only shot he had lacked venom and was easily gathered by Petr Cech. Subbed at half time.

Thierry Henry: Looked lively up front but couldn’t find the finish he was looking for throughout the match and as such failed to really test Cech.

Substitutes

Alexander Hleb: Showed enough promise to keep Arsenal fans satisfied in his debut for the club, with several jinxing runs and involvement in much of Arsenal’s intricate forward play.

Jose Antonio Reyes: Reyes was one of Arsenal’s better performers in the second half, showing his undoubted ability on the ball. Lots of intricate interplay on the edge of the box, but lacked that cutting edge.

Gilberto Silva: The Brazilian World Cup winner showed bags of class in the second half having replaced Flamini. A particularly memorable moment was his double drag-back in the 74th minute to evade two Chelsea players.

Robin van Persie: Looked slightly out of touch today - was dispossessed on several occasion to end several good attacking moves from the Gunners.

Pascal Cygan: Decent performance from Cygan, although it would have been nice to see him have the confidence to shoot when on the edge of the box in the dying minutes.

Justin Hoyte: Little chance to have an impact in the time he had on the pitch, but made one notable sliding tackle to deny Joe Cole after some neat interplay with Crespo.

CHELSEA

Petr Cech: A solid display again - made routine saves from Thierry Henry on several occasions in the first half, but then showed his class by making a flying stop to deny Toure when the ball seemed destined for the corner.

Paulo Ferreira: Kept Pires fairly quiet down the Arsenal left in the first half, and solid again against Hleb in the second before the Arsenal new-boy moved up front. Linked up well with Robben down the Chelsea right.

Asier Del Horno: An impressive debut from Chelsea’s summer signing. He signalled his defensive intent early on with a crunching challenge on Frank Lampard, and then showed his class going forward by providing the assist for Didier’ Drogba’s first.

John Terry: John Terry was as solid as ever as the Chelsea back four kept Arsenal to shots from distance. Unspectacular but dependable.

William Gallas: Strong at centre-back and notably dispossessed Henry on a couple of occasions when the Gunner looked favourite to get a strike in on goal – the Arsenal front-man will have to wait a little longer before breaking the Arsenal goal-scoring record...

Damien Duff: A quiet first half by the standards of Damien Duff as he couldn’t get much out of Paulo Ferreira. Always an underlying threat though.

Claude Makelele: Though Drogba was named as the official man of the match, Makelele pushed him. Broke up play but also came up with some touches of pure magic - double drag-backs and shimmies galore - lovely stuff.

Frank Lampard: A solid display, as we’ve come to expect from last season’s Football Writer’s Player of the Year. Almost added the cherry to Chelsea’s victory when his swerving dipping drive could only be parried by Lehmann.

Eidur Gudjohnsen: Gudjohnsen has thrived in the hole behind the strikers and enjoyed today again. Involved in some slick Chelsea passing moves in the first half and won the header that set up Drogba’s second.

Arjen Robben: Up against one of the world’s best left-backs in Ashley Cole Robben didn’t have much joy in the first half. Started to show glimpses of his brilliance as Chelsea began to control the second half.

Didier Drogba: A superb performance - fully justified Mourinho’s choice with a bustling centre-forward display reminiscent of a classically British forward. Senderos struggled to contain the Ivory Coast striker as he first expertly brought down and fired past Lehmann for Chelsea’s first. Then having held off Senderos he looked to have lost his chance as he was driven wide, but spun on a sixpence to fire home and win the Shield for Chelsea.

Substitutes

Hernan Crespo: One of the biggest cheers of the day was reserved for Hernan Crespo’s warm up in front of the Chelsea faithful. Always playing of the shoulder of the last man he is a real threat and he could be a real asset for Chelsea in their title bid.

Joe Cole: No time to show his full armoury of tricks, but Cole looked a threat going forward, and looked set to score after a one-two with Crespo before Hoyte snuffed out the danger.

Shaun Wright-Phillips: The £21m man started his life at Chelsea with real promise, wrong-footing the defence on several occasions although never really cutting through the Arsenal back line.

Tiago: Helped keep things tight for Chelsea in the final minutes, but could possibly have done better before Fabregas’ strike for Arsenal, when the ball rebounded off his leg.

Geremi: Not given time to make an impact - on for the last two minutes.