A good start to the Champions League group stage in Hamburg, hopefully this is the kick start we need and now we can build on this at Old Trafford at the weekend.


This was always going to be a tricky game, Hamburg is a hostile atmosphere, but overall the lads did well tonight. The game changed in our favour with a 12th minute penalty converted by Gilberto after Robin Van Persie was judged to have been brought down by the German keeper Sascha Kirschstein. I first thought it was a nailed on penalty, but with the replay it didn't look so clean cut, Van Persie certainly made the most of the contact. The result was Kirschstein was shown a red card, and Hamburg were down to 10 men. I thought the game was quite open, Arsenal were finding alot of space, I thought our passing and movement was good, but again the end product was still not quite what it could have been. Van Persie certainly had plenty of shots at goal, but none finding the net. Rosicky for me was man of the match tonight, he was bright and lively the whole game, and his goal was a superb 25 yard strike. It was funny watching big Jens turn away and shake his head with knowing smile , as though it didn't surprise him at all. In effect we had the game in our grasp after that, but we were guilty of a lack of concentration in the final couple of minutes which did allow Hamburg to grab a goal back and make for a edgy last few seconds, but overall, this was just what we needed. The other good news is with Porto and Moscow drawing we have are top of the group. Only downside tonight was losing Toure with an injury that I think will make him a big doubt for Sunday.
Right I am off for a cold one.