[goldenHuddlestone]

Arsenal started their Champions League Group G campaign with a comfortable 2-1 victory over 10-man Hamburg in Germany. Gilberto Silvas 12th minute penalty handed Arsene Wengers side the initiative at the AOL Arena, but it was the dismissal of goalkeeper Sascha Kirschstein in the build-up to the goal that cost Hamburg dear on the night. Silva, who was handed the captains armband after Thierry Henry was forced to sit out the clash with a recurrence of a foot injury, confidently drilled the spot-kick beyond substitute keeper Stefan Wachter whose first task was to pick the ball out of the back of the net.

Kirschstein had seen red for clipping the heels of the lively Robin van Persie who found himself one-on-one with the keeper after some intelligent play by Emmanuel Adebayor. The contact was enough to send the Dutchman falling to the ground and, after Silva stroked home the resulting penalty, there was no way back for the home side. Van Persie could have secured the three points in the first half but he twice pulled angled shots across the face of goal and was flagged marginally offside in the process.

Arsenal lost influential defender Kolo Toure midway through the first half with a back injury and it almost proved costly as highly-rated Belgian youngster Vincent Kompany came within a whisker of heading Hamburg level from a near-post corner soon after his withdrawal. But Arsenals dominance on the ball was rewarded eight minutes into the second half when Tomas Rosicky scored his first goal since a £7million summer switch from Borussia Dortmund. The Czech Republic international was given time and space 25 yards from goal to size up and execute a looping shot over the despairing keeper and into the top left-hand corner of the net.

If the strike came out of the blue then the result was certainly anything but after that moment of magic and, with half an eye on Sundays Premiership clash with Manchester United, the Gunners rang the changes with Aleksandr Hleb and van Persie replaced by Julio Baptista and Mathieu Flamini on 70 minutes. Silva should have doubled his tally on the night in the 76th minute but the Brazilian headed a Flamini corner over the bar from six yards when left totally unmarked. To Hamburgs credit they continued probing right to the final whistle and Boubacar Sanogo saw a late effort ruled out for offside after Piotr Trochowskis shot had clattered against the crossbar.

But the Hamburg striker did get his name on the scoresheet in stoppage time when he had the simple task of scooping the ball into the unguarded net after David Jarolim took Jens Lehmann out of the equation with a neat cut-back. However, it was little more than a consolation strike for Hamburg who were well-beaten on the night despite the scoreline suggesting otherwise.

[theo kawala]

should of been more easy win should of been more goals

[goldenHuddlestone]

Since when did Henry stop taking penalties

[Stiles]

Since he was in England injuired.

[theo kawala]

yep

[goldenHuddlestone]

Originally Posted by Stiles

Since he was in England injuired.

I don't understand what that means

[Stiles]

Originally Posted by goldenHuddlestone

I don't understand what that means

He didnt play in the match as he was at home in england injuried. Which is why he didnt take the penalty.

[goldenHuddlestone]

O i see but is he still the first choice for penalties. Didn't Gilberto take one right at the begining of the season or is that a drug induced dream.

[theo kawala]

he did take one against man u i think lyjungberg should of taken it

[goldenHuddlestone]

I'd say that Gilberto is more of a natural penalty taker thanLjunberg. He has more of a centre to him and more force behind his shots.

[Stiles]

Lauren when fit is maybe the best penalty taker in the country.

[theo kawala]

whens he gonna come back?

[Stiles]

Jan apparently.

[goldenHuddlestone]

Really christ didn't realise it was that long.

[AFC Rule]

Eboue doing good though to cover him....Lauren is top notch penalty taker and Henry dont take penaltys if he was the one fouled the box !

[theo kawala]

if it was out of lauren and eboue in a top match like against chelsea or liverpool who would u pick for me eboue because i think he would do a better job at defending and attacking (and diving) shhhhhhhh!

[Joe]

I thought that Arsenal would have missed Henry more than they have. In a perverse sort of way having Henry out could gel the team. Instead of looking for the talisman up front for inspiration they need to produce themselves.

They should all take plenty of confidence from that.

[goldenHuddlestone]

Henry came out the other day saying that he was sick of having the young players looking to him for approval.

Not very Captain-like

[theo kawala]

yer but they always look at him when they dont know what to do hes not exactly a magician of football is he?

[sdrawrof]

Its funny to think of Henry as an older player, time flies.

[theo kawala]

is he the oldest player in arsenal?

[theo kawala]

ooo no theres poom