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<H2></H2><SPAN>First Published: Sep 14, 2006</SPAN> <DIV class=pictureCaption style="FLOAT: right; WIDTH: 163px">
Arsenal's manager Arsene Wenger answers journalists' questions after a meeting of top European club coaches and UEFA in Geneva, September 2006. Wenger was looking forward to Sunday's clash with Manchester United after seeing his team finally record their first win of the season with a 2-1 Champions League group G win over ten-man SV Hamburg.</DIV>
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was looking forward to Sunday's clash with Manchester United after seeing his team finally record their first win of the season with a 2-1 Champions League group G win over ten-man SV Hamburg here.
Arsenal, who lost 2-1 Barcelona in last year's Paris final, had failed to win any their opening three league fixtures but broke their duck in Europe Wednesday to warm up for Sunday's tussle with Premiership leaders Manchester United.
"I think it is an important result although the performance is more difficult to rate as they had their goalkeeper sent off so early," said Wenger.
Hamburg were reduced to ten men after just 12 minutes with goalkeeper Sascha Kirschstein sent off for felling Robin van Persie in the penalty area.
Brazilian international Gilberto Silva converted the resulting spot-kick to put Arsenal ahead and the visitors were in cruise control.
"Our urgency dropped a little and the game was not over until we scored the second goal and we saw that even then Hamburg were dangerous," Wenger added.
Former Borussia Dortmund man Tomas Rosicky scored a cracking goal - his first for the club - on his return to Germany to clinch the spoils and was delighted with the effort.<DIV class=pictureCaption style="FLOAT: left; WIDTH: 245px">
Arsenal's Brazilian midfielder Gilberto scores from the spot past Hamburg's goalkeeper Stefan Wachter during their Champions League group G football match at the AOL Arena in Hamburg. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was looking forward to Sunday's clash with Manchester United after seeing his team finally record their first win of the season with a 2-1 Champions League group G win over ten-man SV Hamburg.</DIV>
"It is nice to score so early on in my Arsenal career and to get off with a win," said Rosicky.
"It is our target to win this competition but there are a lot of good teams in this competition. We are just one of them."
Wenger was full of praise for Rosicky, the new captain of the Czech national team, who signed from Dortmund in the summer.
"I think Tomas is very talented and a very promising player. He is sharper and had a good game tonight which he capped with a fine goal."
The only downside for Arsen
Arsenal's manager Arsene Wenger answers journalists' questions after a meeting of top European club coaches and UEFA in Geneva, September 2006. Wenger was looking forward to Sunday's clash with Manchester United after seeing his team finally record their first win of the season with a 2-1 Champions League group G win over ten-man SV Hamburg.</DIV>
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was looking forward to Sunday's clash with Manchester United after seeing his team finally record their first win of the season with a 2-1 Champions League group G win over ten-man SV Hamburg here.
Arsenal, who lost 2-1 Barcelona in last year's Paris final, had failed to win any their opening three league fixtures but broke their duck in Europe Wednesday to warm up for Sunday's tussle with Premiership leaders Manchester United.
"I think it is an important result although the performance is more difficult to rate as they had their goalkeeper sent off so early," said Wenger.
Hamburg were reduced to ten men after just 12 minutes with goalkeeper Sascha Kirschstein sent off for felling Robin van Persie in the penalty area.
Brazilian international Gilberto Silva converted the resulting spot-kick to put Arsenal ahead and the visitors were in cruise control.
"Our urgency dropped a little and the game was not over until we scored the second goal and we saw that even then Hamburg were dangerous," Wenger added.
Former Borussia Dortmund man Tomas Rosicky scored a cracking goal - his first for the club - on his return to Germany to clinch the spoils and was delighted with the effort.<DIV class=pictureCaption style="FLOAT: left; WIDTH: 245px">
Arsenal's Brazilian midfielder Gilberto scores from the spot past Hamburg's goalkeeper Stefan Wachter during their Champions League group G football match at the AOL Arena in Hamburg. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was looking forward to Sunday's clash with Manchester United after seeing his team finally record their first win of the season with a 2-1 Champions League group G win over ten-man SV Hamburg.</DIV>
"It is nice to score so early on in my Arsenal career and to get off with a win," said Rosicky.
"It is our target to win this competition but there are a lot of good teams in this competition. We are just one of them."
Wenger was full of praise for Rosicky, the new captain of the Czech national team, who signed from Dortmund in the summer.
"I think Tomas is very talented and a very promising player. He is sharper and had a good game tonight which he capped with a fine goal."
The only downside for Arsen
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