Chelsea [ Images ] opened their Premier League title bid with a record-breaking 3-2 win over Birmingham City [ Images ] while London [ Images ] rivals Arsenal [ Images ] snatched a late 2-1 victory over Fulham [ Images ] on Sunday.

Chelsea, looking to wrest the title back from Manchester United [ Images ], who were playing later against Reading, took the points with a second-half strike from Ghana midfielder Michael Essien [ Images ].

Victory was made even sweeter at Stamford Bridge [ Images ] by Chelsea setting an unbeaten home record in the top-flight with 64 matches in a row. The run dates back to February 2004 and eclipses the previous mark set by Liverpool from February 1978 to January 1981.

Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho told BBC Five Live radio: "We had so many chances to kill the game, it would have been more enjoyable for me to see a 4-2 or a 5-3 than a 3-2."

But he added: "It was a good game to celebrate the home record, a game with goals and enthusiasm, and better than a 0-0 where we still have the record but it's not a good game."

Mourinho, whose side have suffered a spate of injuries, was without captain and central defender John Terry [ Images ], but was able to send on Ivorian striker Didier Drogba [ Images ] from the subs' bench.

In a whirlwind first half, Birmingham took a shock lead with a 15th minute header from Finnish former Chelsea striker Mikael Forssell.

The hosts hit back with goals from league debutants Claudio Pizarro of Peru and Frenchman Florent Malouda [ Images ], who was on target again after scoring in last Sunday's Community Shield defeat by United.

City levelled with a left-footed bullet strike from their new French signing Olivier Kapo, but Essien gave Chelsea a deserved victory with a curling first-time shot to Shaun Wright-Phillips's cut-back.

Dutch striker Robin van Persie [ Images ] converted an 83rd minute penalty and Belarus midfielder Alexander Hleb [ Images ] struck a 90th minute winner to give Arsenal their victory in a London derby at the Emirates Stadium.

A goalkeeping howler by Jens Lehmann had gifted Fulham the lead in the first minute, the German's fluffed clearance leaving new Northern Ireland striker David Healy a tap-in on his competitive debut.

Chelsea and Arsenal followed the winning lead of fellow title hopefuls Liverpool, who beat Aston Villa [ Images ] 2-1 on Saturday with a brilliant late strike by captain Steven Gerrard [ Images ].