A Didier Drogba brace guided Chelsea to victory in the Community Shield.
Drogba's goals came early in each half, the Chelsea striker deftly bringing down Asier Del Horno's pass and then clipping a volley in on eight minutes.
On 52 minutes the Ivory Coast striker shrugged off tackles from Philippe Senderos, Lauren and Jens Lehmann before guiding a rising shot home.
Cesc Fabregas quickly pulled a goal back for Arsenal, sliding the ball in after Freddie Ljungberg crossed.
A new season might have arrived, but on the evidence of Sunday's game it could be a case of same old story for Premiership holders Chelsea.
Last season Jose Mourinho's side had the meanest goals against record in the Premiership and for long periods Chelsea's defensive blanket smothered Arsenal's attack.
Chief smotherer was Claude Makelele who broke up a succession of Arsenal attacks.
Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech had a typically solid game, his best save coming from Kolo Toure, pushing the central defender's shot past the post.
That it was an Arsenal defender who provided the FA Cup holders' best chance in the opening half summed up their attack's deficiencies, with Thierry Henry doing his best work out on the flanks.
For Chelsea's attack, Mourinho had left Hernan Crespo on the bench, opting to deploy Drogba as a lone striker.
Drogba had a difficult initiation into English football last season - managing just 10 Premiership goals - and over the summer he complained Mourinho had demanded too much from him in terms of defensive work.
But his goals demonstrating strength and speed highlighted why Mourinho paid £24m for him last summer.
On eight minutes Drogba was quicker to read the flight of Del Horno's pass than Senderos and after controlling the ball on his chest, the Chelsea striker struck a neat volley past Lehmann.
If Drogba's first goal was primarily a demonstration of his technique, his second was all about brute strength.
Eidur Gudjohnsen flicked on to free Drogba, who shrugged off Senderos's tackle and against all the odds remained on his feet after Lehmann and Lauren tried to clear the danger.
The Chelsea striker then had the composure to curl the ball into the roof of the net.
Eight minutes later Arsenal forced their way back into the game after Fabregas side-footed past Cech after Ljungberg crossed from the right.
With 22 minutes remaining Mourinho introduced Shaun Wright Phillips, though the former Manchester City winger had a quiet game.
The two teams renew their rivalry in a fortnight when Arsenal meet Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the Premiership.
Chelsea: Cech, Paulo Ferreira, Gallas, Terry, Del Horno, Makelele, Lampard (Geremi 90), Duff (Joe Cole 74), Robben (Wright-Phillips 69), Drogba (Crespo 59), Gudjohnsen (Tiago 58).
Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Ricardo Carvalho.
Booked: Makelele, Lampard.
Goals: Drogba 8, 57.
Arsenal: Lehmann, Lauren (Hoyte 78), Toure, Senderos (Cygan 72), Cole, Ljungberg (Reyes 72), Fabregas, Flamini (Hleb 45), Pires (Silva 45), Bergkamp (Van Persie 45), Henry.
Subs Not Used: Howard.
Goals: Fabregas 65.
Ref: Howard Webb (England).