Last season's runners-up Arsenal, who lost 2-1 to Barcelona in the Paris final, have had a wretched start to the 2006/07 season and lie fourth from bottom of the Premiership table after failing to win any of their first three matches.

On Sunday Arsenal face a mammoth duel against league leaders Manchester United but manager Arsene Wenger wants to concentrate on the task in hand.

"Let's focus on Europe. If we get a good result in Hamburg we'll go in good condition to Man Utd," Wenger said.

"I can't say that I am unconcerned by our start to the season. We are lacking a bit of sharpness because half the team has been away for the whole summer playing football."

Forward Thierry Henry has looked far from his best - after a gruelling summer in which he played the entire World Cup with finalists France - and Wenger will hope his star striker turns on the style.

Henry has 49 goals in Europe (including 41 in the Champions League) to his name and will hope to bring up the half century landmark against Hamburg.

German international goalkeeper Jens Lehmann also has a personal goal in mind as he bids to extend his record run without conceding a goal in the competition.

Arsenal conceded twice in the final defeat to Barcelona but Lehmann was sent off after 18 minutes with the score at 0-0 and his record stands at 12 hours and 43 minutes.

Wenger has been forced to reshuffle the defence for the Hamburg clash with French international William Gallas set to be shoe-horned in at left back - ironically the position he detested at Chelsea - as Gael Clichy is injured.

Inexperienced Swiss defender Johan Djorou is set to partner Kolo Toure in central defence.

Hamburg have problems of their own with Dutch international playmaker Rafael van der Vaart, Argentina captain Juan Pablo Sorin and Cameroon defender Thimothee Atouba all sidelined.

The last time Hamburg faced English opposition in Europe was in the 1980 European Cup final when they lost 1-0 to Nottingham Forest.

The 1983 European champions disappeared off the European radar for the next two decades and are making only their second appearance in the Champions League, and their first since 2001.

Like Arsenal the German club have had a torrid start to the season failing to win any of their first three league matches and suffering a humiliating cup defeat to regional side Stuttgart Kickers over the weekend.

"We are in a dip at the moment but we need to forget about the cup loss and concentrate on Wednesday's match against Arsenal," said Hamburg coach Thomas Doll.

"We need to show a positive reaction and I am sure my team will do that."

Wenger will demand the same from his players.