Arsenal have decided to get their annual injury crisis in early after last year’s painful late derailment, and head into this Champions League qualifier against Turkish side Beşiktaş with several first-teamers out or in doubt. They should still have more than enough to take a good result back to London, though the Gunners will underestimate Slaven Bilić‘s talented team at their peril. This one could well be closer than you think.
Beşiktaş vs. Arsenal: Preview and TV schedule
Arsenal will be hoping a string of injury problems doesn’t throw a spanner in the works of their Champions League qualifier against Beşiktaş.
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Key player - Alexis Sánchez (Arsenal)
Alexis Sánchez was an important cog in Arsenal's opening day Premier League win over Crystal Palace, with the Chilean winger causing problems for the Eagles with his excellent set-piece delivery and trickery down the right side. He's probably the best signing any English side has made so far this summer, and it'll be tough for Beşiktaş to keep him quiet.
Key matchup - Kerim Frei vs. Arsenal's defence
Arsenal are notoriously shaky at the back, particularly when they come across a tricky playmaker like Kerim Frei, or, as he’s also known, Kerim Koyunlu. The Austrian-born Turkish international has played against the Gunners before, albeit in the shirt of their London rivals Fulham, from whom he moved to Beşiktaş last summer. Once subject to interest from Borussia Dortmund, Frei is a great talent, capable of playing through the middle or out wide. Slick, quick and explosive, cutting off his supply will help keep the Turkish side quiet.
Beşiktaş injuries and suspensions
Out: None. In doubt: Atiba Hutchinson (muscle).
Arsenal injuries and suspensions
Out: David Ospina (thigh), Theo Walcott (knee) In doubt: Laurent Koscielny (achilles), Mesut Özil, Per Mertesacker, Lukas Podolski (fitness), Kieran Gibbs (hamstring), Mathieu Flamini (cold).
Beşiktaş look set to miss Canadian international Atiba Hutchinson with a muscular injury, though it’s Arsenal who have the biggest injury problems. Goalkeeper David Ospina and winger Theo Walcott are both out, while injuries suffered by Laurent Koscielny, Kieran Gibbs and Mathieu Flamini could see the extended breaks of World Cup winning trio Per Mertesacker, Lukas Podolski and Mesut Özil cut short.
Match Date/Time: Tuesday, 9:45 p.m. local, 2:45 p.m. ET
Venue: Vodafone Arena, Istanbul, Turkey
TV: Fox Sports 1 USA (U.S.), Sportsnet (Canada), ITV1 (U.K.), Star TV (Turkey)
Online: Fox Sports Go, Fox Soccer 2Go (U.S.), ITV Player (U.K.)
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