With all the recent debate generated by Ashley Cole’s controversial new book, manager Arsene Wenger was determined the players who were still in his squad would remain focused on the job at hand.

And so it proved as, despite missing inspirational injured captain Thierry Henry, the Gunners produced a controlled display.

An early penalty from Gilberto – which saw Hamburg keeper Sascha Kirschstein sent off – and Tomas Rosicky’s brilliant first goal for the club were enough to secure maximum points from their opening Champions League Group G game.

It had been a positive start to the match by the English side.

Alexander Hleb almost found Robin van Persie as the Dutchman looked to steal in at the far post.

Like Arsenal, Hamburg have yet to record a domestic league win this season.

The Germans, though, were also in determined mood during the opening exchanges.

On eight minutes, Danijel Ljuboja sent in a shot on the turn from the edge of the penalty area just wide.

Moments later the match erupted in controversy.

Hleb won possession in his own half, and released Emmanuel Adebayor, who carried the ball to the edge of the Hamburg penalty area before slipping in Van Persie on the right.

The Dutchman drew the keeper, and then skipped around him.

Contact from Kirschtein’s out-stretched hand looked minimal at best – but it was enough to convince Swedish referee Peter Frojdfeldt who immediately pointed to the spot and showed a straight red card.

Stefan Wachter replaced midfielder Raphael Wicky, but although the keeper guessed the right way, he could not stop Gilberto’s powerful spot-kick which gave Arsenal a 11th-minute lead.

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.

A backward header from Vincent Kompany then flashed across Lehmann’s goal from a corner.

Kolo Toure had picked up a knock, to his thigh, and was replaced on 27 minutes by Justin Hoyte, so William Gallas got the chance to move to his preferred role at centre-back.

Hamburg played three in midfield and still with two strikers, coach Thomas Doll having not given up the match just yet.

Emmanuel Eboue got free on the overlap down the right after 35 minutes, and flashed a low drive just wide of the far post.

There was a warning for the Gunners, though, in the final minute of the first half when Lehmann – sent off in last season’s final – had to be alert to beat away a fierce 20-yard strike from Ljuboja.

There was a decent chance for the hosts at the start of the second half when Boubacar Sanogo’s floated cross found Joris Mathijsen – but the full-back could only side-foot the ball wide from a central position, 10 yards out.

Then out of nothing, Arsenal were 2-0 up on 53 minutes.

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 in the World Cup this summer.

As the hour mark passed, last season’s beaten European Cup finalists were well in control.

Nigel de Jong upended Fabregas on 67 minutes, conceding a free-kick in a central position some 25 yards out.

Van Persie beat the wall, but the Hamburg keeper tracked across goal quickly to pluck the ball out of the air.

With 22 minutes left, Hleb was replaced by Mathieu Flamini and Baptista came on for van Persie – who was jeered off by the Hamburg supporters.

Gilberto should have added a third with 14 minutes left, but sent his bullet header over after arriving at speed in the box to meet Flamini’s corner.

In the closing moments, Piotr Trochowski struck the bar with a fine 20-yard effort, and although Sanogo put in the follow-up, he was offside.

Piotr Trochowski struck the bar with a fine 20-yard effort, and although Sanogo put in the follow-up, he was offside.

However, there was still time for a consolation goal, when Sanogo swept in David Jarolim’s cut-back.

That late strike ended the personal record of Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann, who had not conceded in more than 850 minutes of top-flight European football.