Arsenal 1-2 Chelsea

The FA Community Shield
The Millennium Stadium, Cardiff

Chelsea signalled their intention to maintain their dominance of English football with an impressive Community Shield victory - with Didier Drogba the star.

The Blues finished 12 points clear at the top of the Premiership last season and few would back against them retaining that trophy after this win over arch-rivals Arsenal.

And Drogba was the hero with a goal in each half to put last season's inconsistent form behind him and stake his own claim to be the main hitman for the Blues this term.

He was a somewhat surprise inclusion in the starting line-up, with Hernan Crespo back in the squad after a brilliant season on loan at AC Milan.

But it proved to be the perfect tactical decision from Jose Mourinho as Drogba scored with a wonderful goal inside nine minutes to give Chelsea the lead.

The Ivory Coast international was on the end of an angled pass from new left-back Asier Del Horno and controlled superbly on his chest.

One touch took him beyond defender Philippe Senderos and with his next the ball was despatched clinically into the far corner of the net.

Arsenal attempted to launch an immediate repost, but without Patrick Vieira in the heart of midfield, they appeared to lack the kind of drive that fans have come to expect from the Gunners.

Instead, Chelsea's Claude Makele was the dominant figure in the central areas, with Arjen Robben a constant threat on the wing.

It was not until the 37th minute that Arsene Wenger's side seriously troubled Chelsea keeper Petr Cech and he was up to the task with a great save to keep out Kolo Toure's 18 yard drive following a quick break upfield.

New signing Alexander Hleb's introduction at half-time, along with Robin van Persie and Gilberto, provided Arsenal with fresh impetus but they failed to take advantage and fell further behind on 57 minutes.

Gudjohnsen's flicked header released Drogba through on goal and he again held off the challenge of Senderos and bore down on Lehmann.

The German keeper forced him wide and Lauren's arrival seemed sure to finally end the danger, but the Chelsea striker proved his stregth by retaining possession and firing into the net on the turn.

It looked to be game over, but Arsenal did hit back within eight minutes as Cesc Fabregas slotted the ball home from six yards.

Fredrik Ljungberg did all the hard work down the right and when his cross evaded the Chelsea defenders in the box, Fabregas was left with the simple task of converting.

Arsenal poured forward looking for an equaliser which gave Chelsea some good chances on the counter-attack, but there were no more goals as the Blues held on to lift the first trophy of the new season.

Arsenal: Lehmann, Cole, Pires (Hleb 46), Ljungberg (Reyes, 72), Bergkamp (van Persie 46), Lauren (Hoyte 78), Henry (c), Fabregas, Flamini (Gilberto 46), Senderos (Cygan 72), Toure

Goals: Cesc Fabregas 64

Chelsea: Cech, Del Horno, Makelele, Lampard (Geremi 90), Duff (Cole 74), Gallas, Drogba (Crespo 59), Robben (Wright-Phillips 69), Ferreira, Gudjohnsen (Tiago 59), Terry (c)

Goals: Didier Drogba 8, 58

Att: 58,014