Hamburg SV against Arsenal

Goodness knows how many passes Arsenal have strung together in this move. Flamini ruins the attack with a wasteful cross that is easily gathered by Wacker.

Luboja's evening comes to an end. The ridiculous hair style from the midfielder has forced the manager to bring him off. On comes Guerrero.

The German fans have found their voice again but there's not too much to get excited about on the field. Maybe it's the Hoffmeister keeping them chirpy.

Great phase of play for Arsenal as Baptista plays a one-two with Adebayor. Wacker just gets there before the Brazilian to smother the danger.

What a chance! Gilberto should have had his second goal of the game. The Brazilian finds himself unmarked in the box but somehow heads over from Hleb's corner. Make no mistake he should have scored.

The tempo has eased up now with Hamburg running out of ideas. Arsenal don't seem too worried and are happy playing keep ball.

Arsenal want a third and Adebayor is keen to get on the scoresheet. A searching run from the Togan almost presents himself with a chance.

Arsenal have used their numerical advantage well and have controlled proceedings. Fabregas has run the game from the centre of the park and Rosicky is a constant menace drifting in from the wing.

Arsenal decide to make a double change and Hleb is replaced by Baptista and van Persie comes off for Flamini.

Hamburg are being restricted to long shots now and Sanogo half-heartedly has a go from 25 yards. But poor contact and no power result in an easy save for Lehmann.

Free-kick to Arsenal and van Persie stings the hands of the goalkeeper. It was a fierce curler with plenty of whip on it, but Wacker positioned himself well and palmed away the danger.

With gaps opening all the time Hleb is allowed time and space to deliver a cross for Adebayor. Wacker claims it first though to the relief of the dispondant home support.

Another free-flowing move from Arsenal results in a speculative effort from Eboue. He swings his boot at a loose ball but it takes a deflection and goes out for a corner. Hamburg clear easily though.

The ball falls nicely to Fabregas who hits a sweet, low drive that is easily dealt with by Wacker.

Arsenal haven't looked at all comfortable with crosses and corners and two corners in succession cause problems for the Gunners defence. Lehmann tips over the first and flaps away the second.

After a minor injury scare, van Persie returns to the field after a nasty trip on the uneven surface. He'll run it off.

The home support are silent now and the noise emanating from the stadium is from the travelling Arsenal fans.

Adebayor almost puts the game to bed with his quick feet and clever thinking. Had he have shown more composure when through on goal the Gunners would have been out of sight. The keeper stands strong and repels the danger.

Rosicky scores his first Arsenal goal in sensational style. The former Dortmund midfielder unleashes a thunderbolt from 25 yards and it finds the top corner. Fantastic strike!

GOAL: HAMBURG 0-2 ARSENAL - Rosicky

Sanogo's pace and strength is causing problems for Hoyte down the Arsenal left and the tall striker fires in a tame shot.

Demel comes back on and restores the Hamburg side to 10 men.

A break in play for an injury to Guy Demel. He's had to go off the field leaving Hamburg temporarily down to nine men.

Kick-ups from Sanogo in the Arsenal box creates a chance from nowhere. He flicks it across the area and Ljuboja volleys just wide. Hleb was caught sleeping there and the chance illustrates just how fragile Arsenal's lead is.

No changes from Arsenal during the break and they will be looking to build on their dominance of the first half.

The teams are back out for the second half and the referee gets the game back underway.

A satisfactory start for Arsenal who have dominated since the sending-off of the Hamburg keeper Kirschstein. Silva's penalty separates the two sides but Hamburg have shown plenty of heart and endeavour in attack and will look to catch Arsenal on the counter.

HALF TIME: HAMBURG 0-1 ARSENAL

Captain Jaromin is presented with a hlaf chance from 20 yards but drags his shot wide by five yards.

The German keeper is called into action again as Ljuboja cracks a left-foot shot from the left-hand edge of the box. A firm pair of hands repels the danger but Hamburg are giving a gutsy account of themselves in spite of their sending off.

And as Arsenal sit back on their laurels Sanogo almost connects with a header from a pin-point cross. But Lehmann gets their first and makes an important fist away to safety.

Hamburg are hanging on and praying for the half time whistle. They are looking tired and weary but Arsenal are failing to capitalise.

Another chance for Arsenal and another for van Persie. A half-volley on the edge of the box on his favoured left foot. But he doesn't get the contact he would like and it's comfortably gobbled up by Wacker.

More intricate play from Arsenal in and around the opposition box. But how many times have we seen this from the Gunners? Somewhat predictably they over-elaborate and get caught out. Hamburg counter but Lehmann comes off his line to smother.

Good skill from van Persie gives him the tim and space to shoot, but from 40 yards, it's no surprise that the ball ends up in Row F.

Eboue has only ever scored one goal for Arsenal, but he nearly adds to it with a fine right-foot strike from the right-hand edge of the box. It was speculative but drifted just wide.

Hamburg tidy up another Arsenal corner. They may have a numerical disadvantage but they are still looking spritely and are keen to get forward when they can.

Van Persie is harshly adjudged to be offside after Rosicky plays in a defence-splitting pass. He fires wide anyway, but the Dutchman is on the shoulder of the last man on every Arsenal attack.

A classic Arsenal counter-attack sees the ball move from Lehmann to Eboue who races past the half way line but his cross is just too long for Hleb and the move is over.

Gallas reverts to centre-back to cover Toure while Hoyte moves out to fill Gallas' place in a reshuffled back line.

Kolo Toure looks in a great deal of discomfort, he's coming off. He was clattered late in a challenge and can barely walk. Justin Hoyte comes on to replace him.

Great chance for Hamburg and while Toure is hobbling, Kompany rises to meet a corner and nods just wide. He maybe should have hit the target from being so close in.

Hamburg are being pinned back now but De Jong has an effort from distance. Lehmann is not troubled though.

He may not be pleasing to the eye but is has had an effect in this half. He chases a long ball that just runs out of play, but another pleasing moment for the Togan.

Corner for Hamburg and Sanogo rises to meet it. Adebayor does enough to put him off and the header flies high and wide over the bar.

Van Persie almost has his second. A neat pull back from Rosicky falls to the Dutchman, but his shot takes a deflection and ends up in the arms of the substitute keeper Wachter. A fine move which deserved a better end product.

Gallas has been given the freedom to attack down the left and has broke forward on two occasions. Rosicky and Fabregas are linking well and providing him with the ammunition to bomb down the left.

There's a nice flow to the match and Arsenal look to assert their quality on the match. There's even more gaps now that the hosts are down to 10 men.

Silva gets Arsenal's Champions League campaign up and running. He calmy tucks away the penalty in which the Hamburg keeper received his marching orders. He tripped van Persie when the Dutchman was clean through on goal. He was the last man and had to go. Stefan Wachter comes on to replace him.

GOAL: HAMBURG 0-1 ARSENAL - Gilberto Silva

RED CARD: Sascha Kirschstein (goalkeeper) Hamburg

PENALTY TO ARSENAL

The game is open and play moving quicker from end to end. Both teams look keen to attack and some nice exchanges on the edge of the Arsenal box ends with Ljuboja firing in a left-foot strike that whistles past the post.

A slip from Eboue almost costs Arsenal dear. Wicky disposses him but the Gunners regroup and Toure can clear.

Some intricate one-two's around the Hamburg box results in a half chance for Robin van Persie. With his weaker right foot he can only slide his effort into the side net from a tight angle.

An early free-kick for the hosts and an early test in the air for the Arsenal back four. Djourou deals with it well and clears to safety.

We're underway. Arsenal are in their changed strip of yellow shirts, Hamburg are in white.

Gilberto Silva leads out his Arsenal side in a warm and dry evening in Hamburg. The stadium is packed to the rafters and the home support are at full volume with kick-off just minutes away.

The teams are in and with no Thierry Henry in the Arsenal line-up, Emmanuel Adebayor partners Robin van Persie up front. William Gallas continues at left-back while Theo Walcott and Julio Baptista start from the bench. For Hamburg there is no Rafael van der Vaart or Juan Pablo Sorin.

After a minor injury scare, van Persie returns to the field after a nasty trip on the uneven surface. He'll run it off.

The home support are silent now and the noise emanating from the stadium is from the travelling Arsenal fans.

Adebayor almost puts the game to bed with his quick feet and clever thinking. Had he have shown more composure when through on goal the Gunners would have been out of sight. The keeper stands strong and repels the danger.

Rosicky scores his first Arsenal goal in sensational style. The former Dortmund midfielder unleashes a thunderbolt from 25 yards and it finds the top corner. Fantastic strike!

GOAL: HAMBURG 0-2 ARSENAL - Rosicky

Sanogo's pace and strength is causing problems for Hoyte down the Arsenal left and the tall striker fires in a tame shot.

Demel comes back on and restores the Hamburg side to 10 men.

A break in play for an injury to Guy Demel. He's had to go off the field leaving Hamburg temporarily down to nine men.

Kick-ups from Sanogo in the Arsenal box creates a chance from nowhere. He flicks it across the area and Ljuboja volleys just wide. Hleb was caught sleeping there and the chance illustrates just how fragile Arsenal's lead is.

No changes from Arsenal during the break and they will be looking to build on their dominance of the first half.

The teams are back out for the second half and the referee gets the game back underway.

A satisfactory start for Arsenal who have dominated since the sending-off of the Hamburg keeper Kirschstein. Silva's penalty separates the two sides but Hamburg have shown plenty of heart and endeavour in attack and will look to catch Arsenal on the counter.

HALF TIME: HAMBURG 0-1 ARSENAL

Captain Jaromin is presented with a hlaf chance from 20 yards but drags his shot wide by five yards.

The German keeper is called into action again as Ljuboja cracks a left-foot shot from the left-hand edge of the box. A firm pair of hands repels the danger but Hamburg are giving a gutsy account of themselves in spite of their sending off.

And as Arsenal sit back on their laurels Sanogo almost connects with a header from a pin-point cross. But Lehmann gets their first and makes an important fist away to safety.

Hamburg are hanging on and praying for the half time whistle. They are looking tired and weary but Arsenal are failing to capitalise.

Another chance for Arsenal and another for van Persie. A half-volley on the edge of the box on his favoured left foot. But he doesn't get the contact he would like and it's comfortably gobbled up by Wacker.

More intricate play from Arsenal in and around the opposition box. But how many times have we seen this from the Gunners? Somewhat predictably they over-elaborate and get caught out. Hamburg counter but Lehmann comes off his line to smother.

Good skill from van Persie gives him the tim and space to shoot, but from 40 yards, it's no surprise that the ball ends up in Row F.

Eboue has only ever scored one goal for Arsenal, but he nearly adds to it with a fine right-foot strike from the right-hand edge of the box. It was speculative but drifted just wide.

Hamburg tidy up another Arsenal corner. They may have a numerical disadvantage but they are still looking spritely and are keen to get forward when they can.

Van Persie is harshly adjudged to be offside after Rosicky plays in a defence-splitting pass. He fires wide anyway, but the Dutchman is on the shoulder of the last man on every Arsenal attack.

A classic Arsenal counter-attack sees the ball move from Lehmann to Eboue who races past the half way line but his cross is just too long for Hleb and the move is over.

Gallas reverts to centre-back to cover Toure while Hoyte moves out to fill Gallas' place in a reshuffled back line.

Kolo Toure looks in a great deal of discomfort, he's coming off. He was clattered late in a challenge and can barely walk. Justin Hoyte comes on to replace him.

Great chance for Hamburg and while Toure is hobbling, Kompany rises to meet a corner and nods just wide. He maybe should have hit the target from being so close in.

Hamburg are being pinned back now but De Jong has an effort from distance. Lehmann is not troubled though.

He may not be pleasing to the eye but is has had an effect in this half. He chases a long ball that just runs out of play, but another pleasing moment for the Togan.

Corner for Hamburg and Sanogo rises to meet it. Adebayor does enough to put him off and the header flies high and wide over the bar.

Van Persie almost has his second. A neat pull back from Rosicky falls to the Dutchman, but his shot takes a deflection and ends up in the arms of the substitute keeper Wachter. A fine move which deserved a better end product.

Gallas has been given the freedom to attack down the left and has broke forward on two occasions. Rosicky and Fabregas are linking well and providing him with the ammunition to bomb down the left.

There's a nice flow to the match and Arsenal look to assert their quality on the match. There's even more gaps now that the hosts are down to 10 men.

Silva gets Arsenal's Champions League campaign up and running. He calmy tucks away the penalty in which the Hamburg keeper received his marching orders. He tripped van Persie when the Dutchman was clean through on goal. He was the last man and had to go. Stefan Wachter comes on to replace him.

GOAL: HAMBURG 0-1 ARSENAL - Gilberto Silva

RED CARD: Sascha Kirschstein (goalkeeper) Hamburg

PENALTY TO ARSENAL

The game is open and play moving quicker from end to end. Both teams look keen to attack and some nice exchanges on the edge of the Arsenal box ends with Ljuboja firing in a left-foot strike that whistles past the post.

A slip from Eboue almost costs Arsenal dear. Wicky disposses him but the Gunners regroup and Toure can clear.

Some intricate one-two's around the Hamburg box results in a half chance for Robin van Persie. With his weaker right foot he can only slide his effort into the side net from a tight angle.

An early free-kick for the hosts and an early test in the air for the Arsenal back four. Djourou deals with it well and clears to safety.

We're underway. Arsenal are in their changed strip of yellow shirts, Hamburg are in white.

Gilberto Silva leads out his Arsenal side in a warm and dry evening in Hamburg. The stadium is packed to the rafters and the home support are at full volume with kick-off just minutes away.

The teams are in and with no Thierry Henry in the Arsenal line-up, Emmanuel Adebayor partners Robin van Persie up front. William Gallas continues at left-back while Theo Walcott and Julio Baptista start from the bench. For Hamburg there is no Rafael van der Vaart or Juan Pablo Sorin.