Arsenal Aiming For Turkish Delight

Besiktas vs. Arsenal Match Preview - Champions League Qualifier - 19.08.14

Another fourth place for Arsenal in the league last season, means that we get the pleasure of testing our mettle against another Turkish side in the Champions League qualification for the second year in succession. This time, we are up against the "Black Eagles" also known as Besiktas JK.

Arsenal have never faced Besiktas in the Champions League, infact, Arsenal have never faced Besiktas in any competitive fixture, but the visit to the 35,000 capacity "Eagles Nest" stadium for this first leg on Tuesday, means that the Gunners will have to be on their best form to come away with a result.

Following the opening day win against a stubborn Crystal Palace at the Emirates, you can expect Wenger to lead his men into this round with a no nonsense attitude. This away match will be no cake walk, so expect a both barrels approach from The Arsenal.

Besiktas finished 3rd in last seasons Turkish league and have been regulars in the Turkish top flight for 56 years, a record they share alongside Fenerbache and Galatasary. They have added to their already talented squad over the summer - the most notable addition being one Demba Ba, who has already netted a hat trick for his side in their previous game, in which the Black Eagles saw off Dutch side Feyenoord 5-2 on aggregate and booked a place in the final phase of qualifying. He will be one to watch in this challenging fixture, even though history and form plays to Arsenals preference.

Besiktas haven't taken part in the Champions League Group stages since 2010, while Arsenal are looking to secure a consecutive 17th season in Europe's Premier club competition as we all know.

Arsenal's record against Turkish sides, let alone our record in qualifying for the ECL, is excellent, so expect this game to consolidate those statistics.

LAST 3 (Against Turkish opposition)

• Arsenal 5 - 0 Fenerbache (Aggregate score - CL Qualifier 13/14)
• Fenerbache 2 - 5 Arsenal (Aggregate score - CL Group 2008)
• Arsenal 0 - 0 Galatasary (UEFA Cup Final 2000 - Galatasary won on pens)

FACTFILE

• Arsenal have never lost a competitive fixture against Turkish opposition over 90 minutes, having played 7 games, winning 4 and drawing 3.
• Despite his German nationality, Mesut Özil is of Turkish origin as his family hail from a village in northern Turkey. This will be his first game for Arsenal against Turkish opposition should he feature.
• Arsenal have scored a total of eight goals in their last two fixtures in the Turkish capital, Istanbul.

INJURIES

At the time of writing, Kieran Gibbs, Serge Gnabry, Theo Walcott, Ryo Miyaichi, Mesut Özil, Lukas Podolski, and Per Mertesacker will miss this game.

POSSIBLE STARTING XI (4-1-4-1)

Szczesny; Monreal, Koscielny, Chambers, Debuchy; Wilshere, Arteta, Ramsey; Cazorla, Giroud, Alexis.

It will be a cagey encounter at the Eagles Nest, with Arsenal keeping cool for a positive result. Expect no fireworks in this first leg, but a solid, if unadventurous, display.

GOONERSPHERE'S PREDICTION

Besiktas 0 - 2 Arsenal

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