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Hamburg 1 Arsenal 2: Rosicky's rocket rewards Wenger

By Jason Burt at the AOL Arena
Published: 14 September 2006

Suddenly this Champions' League lark is a bit more of a breeze for Arsenal. Having toiled for so long under Arsène Wenger, failing to reach the business end of the competition year after annoying year, often looking as if they were suffering some kind of mental block, they stormed into the final last season. Last night they brushed aside the challenge of Hamburg to make an emphatic opening statement of intent in Group G.
Admittedly they were given some large dollops of luck - something they feel they have been lacking of late. First there was a marginal early penalty, cleverly earned by Robin van Persie and executed by Gilberto Silva, which led to the dismissal of the goalkeeper Sascha Kirschstein. Then there was the cavalier, sometimes reckless, approach of the Germans, who jettisoned their claim, earned last season, to having the Bundesliga's soundest defence.

Article Length: 732 words (approx.)

Rosicky will stand his ground in face of tough-tackling Premiership
JIM VAN WIJK

TOMAS Rosicky is ready to show he can mix it with the tough-tackling midfielders of the Barclays Premiership as well as crack in the odd wonder goal.
The Czech Republic international opened his Arsenal account in some style on Wednesday night, with a fine 25-yard effort in the 2-1 Champions League victory in Hamburg.

Rosicky joined the Gunners from Borussia Dortmund in the summer, and went on to catch the eye at the World Cup with a couple of impressive strikes against the United States. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has chosen to blood the combative, goalscoring midfielder progressively this season, using him only twice in the Barclays Premiership and also in the Champions League qualifier first leg against Croatia Zagreb.
Rosicky, though, hopes he will soon be in the thick of the action, with the Londoners heading to leaders Manchester United for what has all the makings of another explosive on Sunday.
He said: "The Premier League is very quick, much tougher than in Germany. England is certainly more physical. But I knew it would be very physical and I was prepared for that. I am not scared if someone wants to kick me, because I played in Germany and I am used to that."
Rosicky, 25, recalled: "I had a very hard time in Germany at the start of my career because teams would play with a man marker on me and it was difficult, so it was good preparation for England."
The midfielder is well aware of the history between the two rival clubs, who spent the best part of six seasons battling it out for the title before the emergence of Chelsea. Rosicky said: "I remember the game at Old Trafford with what happened with Ruud van Nistelrooy [in October 2004]. Everyone remembers that one. I am looking forward to it.
"I know it will be tough and physical at Old Trafford, but I said when I joined Arsenal that you will never see me jump when the tackles come in. I am not as strong as some - but I am not scared either so I will never jump out the way of tackles."
Arsenal lost on their previous visit to Manchester this season, going down 1-0 at City on 26 August. Wenger's men have yet to record a Premiership victory, and find themselves near the foot of the table following their worst start to a top-flight campaign since the French coach took charge.
There is belief, though, the win in Hamburg could just kick-start Arsenal's domestic campaign. Rosicky said: "We have not started well in the Premier League, but I hope this win will make us more confident and then we can win at Manchester."
Wenger is more than happy with the way Rosicky has progressed, likening him to Robert Pires, who provided a consistent supply of goals from midfield before leaving the club at the end of last season. "Robert Pires was a player that I have always liked," Rosicky said. "On the one side, I wanted to play with him - but I also knew that if he stayed then Arsenal probably would not have bought me."
Rosicky added: "I know Pires scored a lot of goals and I will try to do my best to be productive when it comes to scoring. For my country, I have scored quite a few goals but at Dortmund I was not so successful and averaged five goals a season so I know from my position; I have to score more."
Thierry Henry remains a doubt this weekend after missing the trip to Hamburg because of a foot problem. Defender Kolo Toure is expected to play despite hobbling off inside 30 minutes last night with a hip injury.
This article: http://sport.scotsman.com/football.cfm?id=1361722006
Last updated: 15-Sep-06 01:03 BST
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Rosicky thunderbolt brightens Arsenal

ALAN ROBSON AT THE AOL ARENA

Hamburg 1 - Sanogo (90)
Arsenal 2 - Gilberto Silva (12 pen), Rosicky (53)
ARSENAL took advantage of an early red card for Hamburg goalkeeper Sascha Kirschstein, and the penalty that went with it, to clinch victory in the impressive AOL Arena, although Tomas Rosicky's first goal since arriving at Highbury in the summer proved to be the winner.

Despite missing injured captain Thierry Henry, the Gunners produced a controlled display.

Having lost last season's Champions League final to Barcelona following the early dismissal of Jens Lehmann, there may have been an element of justice to Arsenal profiting in such a way, although their appeared little contact from Kirschstein on Robin van Persie when the Dutchman skipped past him in the area after only ten minutes.
Gilberto put Arsenal ahead with the resultant spot kick, beating substitute goalkeeper Stefan Wachter,
The Hamburg faithful were incensed, and a deafening whistle rang around the stadium every time the Gunners were in possession.
Rosicky made progress down the left, and cut the ball back to Van Persie, whose near-post flick was well kept out by Wachter. The Germans, like Arsenal, are without a win in their domestic league so far this season, but Vincent Kompany came closest to levelling things with a backward header from a corner that flashed across Lehmann's goal.
Arsenal centre back Kolo Toure had picked up a knock to his thigh, and was replaced on 27 minutes by Justin Hoyte, with recent arrival William Gallas getting the chance to move to his preferred role at centre-back.
Arsenal began the second half brightly, midfielder Cesc Fabregas almost jinking his way through the Hamburg defence, but their appeared little threat to the scoreline prior to the 53rd minute, when Rosicky produced a goal out of nothing.
Van Persie fed Rosicky, some 25 yards out on the left. The Czech midfielder took a touch to set himself before unleashing a rasping strike into the top corner.
It was a fine strike indeed, reminiscent of those he netted for the Czech Republic in the World Cup this summer.
There was a scare at the end, however, when Hamburg's Boubacar Sanogo pulled one back in stoppage time and the German side even threatened to snatch an unlikely draw.
Hamburg: Kirschstein, Demel, Reinhardt, Kompany, Mathijsen, Jarolim, De Jong, Wicky, Trochowski, Sanogo, Ljuboja. Subs: Wachter, Mahdavikia, Guerrero, Fillinger, Berisha, Laas, Benjamin.
Arsenal: Lehmann, Eboue, Toure, Djourou, Gallas, Hleb, Fabregas, Silva, Rosicky, Van Persie, Adebayor. Subs: Almunia, Ljungberg, Julio Baptista, Flamini, Song Billong, Hoyte, Walcott.
Referee: Peter Frojdfeldt (Sweden)
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· Champions' League
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This article: http://sport.scotsman.com/football.cfm?id=1357232006