Arsenal 'still main rivals for Blues'

CHELSEA striker Eidur Gudjohnsen insisted that Arsenal will again be his side's main title rivals this season, following their opening victory against Manchester United.

But while Gudjohnsen believes Chelsea can run the Gunners closer than last season, he accepts that their own chances would have been boosted - if Patrick Vieira had moved to Real Madrid.

He declared: "I believe Arsenal will be the main threat for the title once again but hopefully, as we grow as a team, we will be the ones challenging them.

"If Patrick Vieira had gone to Real Madrid it would definitely have left Arsenal slightly weaker. He's such a dominant player in midfield for them and I have enormous respect for him.

"But I look forward to meeting Arsenal later in the season as hopefully, we have got rid of that Arsenal jinx (in the Champions League quarter-finals)." The scant evidence from the start to the new Premiership season was, indeed, that Arsenal, with Vieira and Sol Campbell still to return from injury, undoubtedly remain the team to beat. "I think the way we play will vary from game to game and the manager will analyse every situation," observed Gudjohnsen.

Chelsea know only too well, however, that success in any league is ultimately based around getting the defence right first. Only then can the fantasy football seemingly demanded by Roman Abramovich be developed within a successful side.

Keeper Petr Cech observed: "If you want to win something, then you have to play well in defence.

"We did that so it was enough to score one goal.

"Then it's easier to play. During pre-season, we scored a lot of goals and so I hope we'll continue scoring goals and, especially, winning."

While Cech and right-back Paulo Ferreira were new additions to the back four, the centre-back duo of John Terry and William Gallas was still their greatest strength.

"John is one of the best defenders in England. He's our captain and a great player. He played very well against United and blocked three or four shots. So it was easier for me to play," said Cech. That left Cech's goalkeeping rival Carlo Cudicini and Portugal international centre-back Ricardo Carvalho on the bench, while Glen Johnson, fresh from an England senior call-up, was in the stands.

"You could see players like Carvalho and (Mateja) Kezman were on the bench, just like Carlo. We have a great squad," added the Czech international keeper.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid coach Jose Antonio Camacho is looking for options to strengthen his defence after failing to prise midfielder Patrick Vieira away from Arsenal.

"It's obvious that Vieira would have given us extra power in the midfield," Camacho said.

"He's an outstanding ball-winner, especially in the air from goal kicks and he's got great physical strength."

Camacho spent the weekend in Ibiza on club president Florentino Perez's yacht to discuss which defenders they would try to recruit.

Spanish newspapers say Inter Milan defender and Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro is top of their list and Argentine centre-back Fabricio Coloccini also one of their targets.