Arsenal scraped into the group stage of the Champions League on a night
of high anxiety at the Emirates Stadium that saw Alexis Sanchez open his
Gunners account.
Arsene Wenger's team missed a succession of chances to put the
qualifier beyond the reach of Besiktas following a goalless draw in the
first leg in Istanbul, with a 1-0 win putting Arsenal through.
Sanchez, Santi Cazorla and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain failed to score
when it was harder to miss amid the mayhem of a roller-coaster second
half in which Mathieu Debuchy was sent off for collecting a second
yellow card.
Frantic Arsenal almost paid the ultimate price as they were over-run
time and again by Besiktas who sought the away goal that would secure a
prized European scalp.
The Turks' coach Slaven Bilic, sat in the stands due to his touchline
ban for arguing with referee Milorad Mazic in the first leg, watched as
Demba Ba crashed a great chance into the side netting.
It was the best of Besiktas' opportunities, although Bilic was
furious that a penalty was not awarded when Ramon Motta appeared to be
clipped from behind by Jack Wilshere.
Sanchez's goal on the stroke off half time enabled Arsenal to
progress into the Champions League proper for a 17th successive season,
but they rode their luck against spirited opposition to subject their
fans to a nail-biting night.
The summer signing from Barcelona operated as the lone striker in the
absence of Olivier Giroud, who is thought to have been ruled out until
the New Year with a tibia injury.
And while Sanchez struck the all-important winner that guarantees
Arsenal's presence in the draw for the group stage, he was also
wasteful.
The Gunners should have taken an early lead after he was nudged over
and referee Pedro Proenca played advantage, but Wilshere sent a fine
chance wide of the right post.
The early onslaught continued with Cazorla failing with an audacious
lob and Sanchez proving unable to reach the ball after
Oxlade-Chamberlain had sped free down the right.
Ba threatened to collect a long ball at the other end with only
Wojciech Szczesny to beat, but the Poland keeper arrived at the critical
moment.
Sanchez sent a free-kick into the arms of Tolga Zengin before Mathieu Debuchy and Ersan Gullum collided in mid air with a thud.
The Turks were defending resolutely, crowding Sanchez out as the
Chile winger attempted to capitalise on a floating pass by
Oxlade-Chamberlain.
And they threatened in attack too as Motta teed up a shot after
gathering a cut back only to crash to the ground following a challenge
by Wilshere in the area.
Replays proved inconclusive over the extent of any content, but
Proenca was satisfied there was no penalty, drawing howls of protest
from the noisy contingent of Besiktas fans.
A poor first touch from Sanchez prevented him from making the most of
Wilshere's deft pass, but on the stroke of half-time the South American
opened his Arsenal account.
Besiktas failed to clear the ball properly and Mesut Ozil combined
with Wilshere, who left the German's final ball for Sanchez to guide
into the net.
Having just ridden their luck in their own area, the goal came as an
enormous relief and Sanchez was mobbed by his jubilant team-mates.
Sanchez was a metre away from making it 2-0 five minutes after the
interval but he was beaten by the speed of Cazorla's pass and he should
have done better moments later when set up by Wilshere.
Still Arsenal's defence could not rest, however, as successive raids into their area were met with scrambling responses.
And the point was emphasised when Ba smashed a brilliant opportunity
into the side netting knowing he should have done much better.
Cazorla hit the right post and with Besiktas caught on the counter,
somehow Sanchez and Cazorla failed to put the match beyond the visitors'
reach.
Debuchy received his marching orders, if a little unfairly as he won
the ball in the tackle, and from then on Arsenal defended for their
lives in a hair-raising finish.
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