Source: Eurosport
Drogba boosts Chelsea, Arsenal beat Everton as Premiership opens
LONDON (AFP) - Didier Drogba scored a last-minute winner as Chelsea marked Carlo Ancelotti's first match in the Premier League with a 2-1 opening day victory over Hull on Saturday while fellow title hopefuls Arsenal trounced Everton 6-1.
Drogba sealed all three points for the English title contenders when, in the second minute of added-on time, his cross-shot floated over Hull goalkeeper Boaz Myhill at Stamford Bridge.
But it was Chelsea's London rivals Arsenal, written off by many pundits as a top-four side this term, who ended the first day of the new season in pole position with a thumping win at Goodison Park against an Everton team who finished fifth last season.
Arsenal were 3-0 in front before half-time. Brazilian midfielder Denilson put the Gunners ahead with a 26th minute curling shot that gave Everton keeper Tim Howard no chance.
Belgian defender Thomas Vermaelen marked his debut by heading in from a Robin van Persie free-kick and it was a similar story when the equally unattended William Gallas nodded in from a Cesc Fabregas set-piece four minutes before the break.
Fabregas made it 4-0 early in the second-half when he crowned a
rapid, length of the field, counter-attack with a stylish finish before the Spaniard scored his second after being allowed to run free by the Everton defence.
Eduardo added a sixth two minutes from time after Andrei Arshavin's shot came back off the post before Louis Saha pulled one back for Everton.
"Everything went for us today. We were always in charge and dictated the game," said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.
But the Frenchman refused to get carried away.
"From not competitive at all before the game, we do not now suddenly become a super-favourite as well."
In the day's other Premier League matches, cash-rich Manchester City beat Blackburn 2-0 while Stoke defeated new boys Burnley by the same scoreline.
Fulham added to Portsmouth's problems with a 1-0 win, Sunderland also grabbed a 1-0 win at Bolton while West Ham beat last season's Championship winners Wolves 2-0, the same scoreline that gave Wigan victory at Aston Villa.
At Stamford Bridge, Stephen Hunt scored on his Hull debut as the Tigers took a shock lead before Drogba equalised.
Chelsea should have gone ahead when Drogba shot wide from just six yards out and they were made to pay when Hull took a 28th-minute lead after the ball broke in the box to midfielder Hunt.
Less than 10 minutes later Drogba equalised with a curling free-kick from 28 yards after John-Obi Mikel had been fouled.
Drogba admitted his was a lucky winner.
"It was a cross but the intention was always good," he said.
"The belief is strong as always. I think today we showed it, we fight until the end of the game."
Manchester City who, thanks to their Abu-Dhabi based owners, spent nearly 100 million pounds on players during the close season, saw one of their new signings give them the lead at Ewood Park when Emmanuel Adebayor, the former Arsenal striker, turned in Shaun Wright Phillips's third minute cross.
Stephen Ireland added the second in the last minute.
City boss Mark Hughes praised Adebayor's goal.
"It was a great finish," said Hughes. "He was excellent today, along with a number of other players. The goal settled him down.
He worked hard for his team-mates."
Portsmouth, beset by uncertainty surrounding the proposed takeover of the club by Arab businessman Sulaiman Al-Fahim, were undone at Fratton Park when Clint Dempsey's 13th-minute shot deflected off Bobby Zamora and past goalkeeper David James.
Wigan, in Roberto Martinez's first match as a Premier League manager, stunned Aston Villa when Hugo Rodallega let fly from long range with a dipping shot that beat Brad Friedel before Jason Koumas made it 2-0 in the 56th minute.
Former Tottenham striker Darren Bent secured Sunderland's victory against Bolton with a fifth-minute header.
Mark Noble put West Ham in front at Molineux with a curling first-half shot before Matthew Upson's header from a corner doubled the Hammers' lead in the 69th minute.
Stoke were 2-0 up inside 34 minutes against Burnley, playing their first top-flight match in 33 years, after Ryan Shawcross headed them in front before Stephen Jordan's own-goal.
Champions Manchester United begin their quest for a record fourth successive English title at home to Birmingham on Sunday while arch-rivals Liverpool go to Tottenham.
