Match Preview: Besiktas vs Arsenal

After scrapping a win over Crystal Palace at the weekend in the Premier League, Arsenal travel to Turkey to take on the Istanbul giants Be?ikta? in order to secure their place in the group stages of this year’s UEFA Champions League.

Arsene Wenger’s team is desperate to qualify for the group stages as they look forward to continue their record of reaching Europe’s elite competition as they have done for each of last 16 seasons. Overall, the north London club has missed out on group stages just 6 times since 1992/93 season, when European Cup became the UEFA Champions League. It’s not just about continuing the participation in the league but also about money. A club receives £7million if they qualify for the group stages and additionally revenue of around £3million comes from Champions League home matches.The last time Be?ikta? qualified for the UEFA Champions League was way back in 2009/10 when they finished at the bottom of the group B, the group was lead by another side from England, Manchester United who were ultimately eliminated from Bayern Munich in the quarter finals. The only victory registered by the Turkish club in the competition was at Old Trafford when they beat Manchester United 1-0. Be?ikta? ended United’s 23 match unbeaten home run in European competition after Rodrigo Tello’s strike won them the game.

Arsenal have won all 12 of their play-off matches, eliminating Dinamo Zagreb (2006/07), Sparta Prague (2007/08), FC Twente (2008/09), Celtic (2009/10), Udinese (2011/12) & last season’s Turkish opponents Fenerbahçe. For Be?ikta?, their record is also good as they have won their last 12 home games in the qualifying phases of UEFA competitions since a 1-1 draw with Hapoel Haifa in the 1999/00 UEFA Champions League second qualifying round.

Besiktas will prove a tough challenge to Arsenal

Form Guide:

• Arsenal were automatically qualified for the play-offs of the Champions League as they finished fourth in the league. For Arsenal, this is the third match of the season after winning silverware in the Community Shield and starting Premier League season with a win over Palace at the Emirates few days ago. Aaron Ramsey has scored in both games and is set to continue his scintillating form from last season. Additions of Mathieu Debuchy and Callum Chambers after departures of Vermaelen and Sagna have bolstered their defence while signing of Alexis Sanchez is a luxury to have in midfield full of talented and creative players. Arsenal’s business this summer is not finished yet and the remaining activity will depend on the success in the play-offs of the UEFA Champions League. Aaron Ramsey scored when Arsenal last travelled to Istanbul. In the both rounds of play-offs, he scored thrice as Arsenal progressed to group stages with a 5-0 aggregate over Fenerbahçe.
• Be?ikta? finished third in the Süper Lig and had to play third qualifying round in order to qualify for the UEFA Champions League play-offs for the group stages. The Turkish side were fielded against Feyenoord from Netherland and won the both legs very comfortably. Be?ikta? registered a 2-1 win in Rotterdam before former Chelsea striker Demba Ba’s hat-trick at home fired Istanbul club past Feyenoord with a 5-2 aggregate. Like Arsenal, Slaven Bili? also signed few quality players along with Senegalese striker Demba Ba. He scored a brace against Arsenal in a 7-3 thumping given by the Gunners to Newcastle United in December 2012, before moving to their London rivals Chelsea in January 2013. Unlike Arsenal, Be?ikta? do not begin their domestic campaign until later this month and are fully focused on the play offs.

From the Press:

• Arsene Wenger, manager, Arsenal: "We want to be in the Champions League group stage. Be?ikta? had a convincing result against Feyenoord, and so for us we have the luck to play the first game away."
• Slaven Bili?, coach, Be?ikta?: "Arsenal have some of the best players in the world but we have seen on many occasions that talent doesn't necessarily mean a team will win."

Match Facts:

• Be?ikta?'s record in 14 games against English clubs is W4 D3 L7 (At Home: W2 D3 L3, In England: W2 D0 L4)
• Arsenal have yet to lose over 90 minutes against Turkish sides, conceding just twice in seven meetings: W4 D3 L0 (At Home: W2 D1 L0, In Istanbul: W2 D1 L0).
• A product of Arsenal’s academy, O?uzhan Özyakup now plays for Be?ikta?. The player left the North London club after he was told by ex skipper Robin van Persie that it was in his best interest to make a move away from the Gunners.
• The manager of Be?ikta?, Croatian Slaven Bili? used to play for London club West Ham United (1995-97) and Merseyside club Everton (1997-2000).
• Be?ikta? meet Arsenal for the first time in a competitive UEFA match.
• UEFA Champions League record:

Arsenal: P175 W88 D39 L48

Be?ikta?: P66 W22 D12 L32