The Premier League season opened yesterday with Chelsea showing the fighting spirit it is going to need if it is to reclaim the title and Manchester City getting an early return from its heavy summer spending.

Chelsea trailed to visiting Hull, but Didier Drogba hit his second goal of the game in the 90th minute to secure a 2-1 victory, while City won 2-0 at Blackburn through goals by Emmanuel Adebayor and Stephen Ireland.

But Arsenal produced the performance of the day by dominating Everton 6-1 at Goodison Park to equal the biggest opening away win in the Premier League's 17-year history.

"It's a good win, but come on, let's face it, we're not going to win 6-1 every day," said Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas, who scored twice. "It's just one more game for the title race.

"We can do it if we play like that."

slick, attacking football

The Gunners produced slick, attacking football to dismantle last season's fifth-place team, contrasting with a win for Chelsea that owed much to luck.

Drogba's winning goal came from an attempted cross that floated over goalkeeper Boaz Myhill and in at the far post from an acute angle.

"I was trying for a cross," Drogba said. "It was difficult but it's always good to win the first game. The belief is strong, as always. Today, we showed we will try till the end of the game.

"We were lucky to score, but the desire is always there."

The win gave Chelsea an early lift in its attempt to clinch the league for the first time since 2006 and end Manchester United's record-equalling run of three straight titles.

The defending champion host Birmingham today, when last season's runner-up Liverpool are at Tottenham.

Manchester City has spent almost £100 million (US$166 million) on new players since the end of last season and one of its new recruits put the club 1-0 up in the third minute of his debut.

Adebayor, signed from Arsenal for £25 million, took a pass by Shaun Wright-Phillips and smashed the ball into the net from the edge of the area.

last-minute goal

Blackburn had chances to equalise but Ireland made the game safe for City, which have not won any trophies since 1976, when he calmly placed the ball past goalkeeper Paul Robinson in the last minute.

It was the first time in a year that City's defence held out an opposition attack away from home.

Arsenal's performance against the FA Cup runners-up hinted that manager Arsene Wenger may have been wise when he refused to disrupt his team of young players by spending the proceeds of Adebayor's sale on big-name stars.

Denilson hit a fierce shot from outside the area for 1-0, Thomas Vermaelen headed in on his debut and William Gallas made it 3-0 before half-time when he headed in Fabregas' free kick.

five-goal margin

Fabregas then struck twice in the second half and substitute Eduardo da Silva added the sixth to hand Everton its worst-ever home loss in the Premier League. Louis Saha got Everton's only goal in injury time.

The five-goal margin matched Bolton's 5-0 win at Leicester in 2001 and Liverpool's 6-1 win at Crystal Palace in 1994.