Arsenal’s patched-up, inexperienced back four, further disrupted by a first-half injury to Kolo Touré, held their own against a spirited SV Hamburg team, who continued to attack despite suffering the early sending-off of Sascha Kirschstein, the goalkeeper.

The visiting team scored two goals of contrasting beauty, with a clinical counter-attack resulting in a first-half penalty converted by Gilberto Silva before Tomas Rosicky stole the show with his first goal for the club. Jens Lehmann played his customary crucial role, making two good saves with the score at 1-0, although Boubacar Sanago’s injury-time consolation brought his remarkable run of European games without conceding a goal to an end after 853 minutes. The previous time he picked the ball out of his net in Europe was in March 2005.

With Arsenal having taken only two points from their opening three Barclays Premiership matches, Wenger’s belief that his team are title contenders is looking dubious, but the Champions League is a different matter. It is becoming difficult to avoid the conclusion that the Frenchman’s adherence to risky, attacking football makes Arsenal more suited to what remains, in essence, a knockout competition.

It was surprising, though, to see Wenger abandon the tactics that took his team to the final without a single defeat last May. That run was based on a 4-5-1 formation with the midfield rushing forward on the counter-attack at every opportunity, but last night Wenger reverted to 4-4-2, with Robin van Persie partnering Emmanuel Adebayor up front in place of the injured Thierry Henry.

William Gallas remained exiled at left back — how long before his next incredible sulk? — and Johan Djourou made the most of his opportunity at centre back as Hamburg started brightly. The Switzerland player needed every inch of his muscular frame to repel two dangerous passes and he made a well-timed tackle on Raphaël Wicky on the edge of the area to spare the blushes of Emmanuel Eboué, who had given the ball away.

Having been criticised by Cole all week, it appeared as if Arsenal were going to stay under siege in Germany, but after ten minutes they were liberated by a piece of breathtaking counter-attacking football. Alexander Hleb collected Lehmann’s throw in his own half and released Adebayor with one of those wonderful cross-field passes he produces once or twice in every match.

Adebayor thundered down the left flank before finding Van Persie in the penalty area, with the goal at his mercy. The Holland striker almost went around Kirschstein but went over the goalkeeper’s trailing leg, with Peter Frojdfeldt immediately sending him off.

The home team clearly thought that Frojdfeldt should have acted differently and were still protesting as Gilberto dispatched the penalty.

For a team a goal and a man down within 11 minutes, Hamburg’s commitment to attack was impressive, with Arsenal by no means completely comfortable. Nigel de Jong headed just past the far post and Lehmann made a smart save from Danijel Ljuboja just before half-time, problems caused in part by Touré’s 28th-minute withdrawal with a hip injury.

Arsenal’s only other real chance of the opening period also fell to Van Persie, whose shot was saved by Stefan Wächter, the substitute goalkeeper, following a left-wing cross from Rosicky, and their second goal came from the same combination. Dropping deep to receive possession in the 53rd minute, Van Persie passed square to his new team-mate, with Rosicky cutting inside to unleash a right-foot thunderbolt from 25 yards.

Having provided a partial response to Cole’s latest diatribe, Arsenal must prepare for a further test of their spirit against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday.

SV HAMBURG (4-4-2): S Kirschstein — G Demel (sub: M Mahdavikia, 53min), B Reinhardt, V Kompany, J Mathijsen — D Jarolim, N de Jong, P Trochowski, R Wicky (sub: S Wächter, 12)— B Sanogo, D Lluboja (sub: J P Guerrero, 81). Substitutes not used: M Fillinger, B Berisha, A Laas, C Benjamin. Sent off: Kirschstein.

ARSENAL (4-4-2): J Lehmann — E Eboué, K Touré (sub: J Hoyte, 28), J Djourou, W Gallas — A Hleb (sub: M Flamini, 69), Gilberto Silva, F Fàbregas, T Rosicky — E Adebayor, R van Persie (sub: J Baptista, 69). Substitutes not used: M Almunia, F Ljungberg, A Song, T Walcott.

Referee: P Frojdfeldt (Sweden).

• FC Porto were left to rue a series of missed chances after a 0-0 draw at home to CSKA Moscow. Anderson, Porto’s Brazilian midfield player, hit the post and Adriano missed the best chance when he fired wide when clear.