From the
opening seconds, when Demba Ba clattered a shot into the woodwork almost
directly from the kick-off, it was clear that this might be a European
play-off containing a little more peril than normal for Arsenal. Aaron
Ramsey’s late red card for two bookings summed up their discomfort.
Besiktas,
and Ba in particular, seemingly on a mission to prove Chelsea sold the
wrong striker, were not about to bow down and shower Arsene Wenger and
his team with rose petals as they waved them into the group stages of
the Champions League for the 17th successive year.
Slaven
Bilic had them revved up and Wenger’s team performed, as they did
against Crystal Palace on Saturday, with spirit and resistance but
little fluency.
When they
did pierce the Turks, they were not clinical in front of goal. Olivier
Giroud was more wasteful than most. After an hour of pressure, Alexis
Sanchez sprinted down the right and cut the ball on to his foot but the
centre forward miscued.
Moments
later, when Sanchez found Giroud, and accelerated into the penalty area
he looked up to find possession had again been surrendered.
There
would be no precious away goal and captain Mikel Arteta hobbled off
early in the second half, but Arsenal should be relieved to head back to
London with the tie level, knowing they could be stronger at the
Emirates next week.
In
recent years, Arsenal have turned this hurdle into something of a
formality. Regularly, they have been drawn in an awkward-looking tie but
each time they have breezed through, be it against Fenerbahce, Celtic,
Udinese or whoever.
Not
only have they advanced to the group stages, but they have actually won
all 12 legs of their previous six play-off ties. So, perhaps avoiding
complacency was Wenger’s biggest challenge as he prepared for a return
to Istanbul, where his team have scored eight goals on their last two
visits, both against Fenerbahce.
His
team were certainly slow off the mark, although they were jolted into
life when Ba went for goal from the kick-off and almost caught Wojciech
Szczesny out. The audacious effort bounced on to the bar, after the
slightest of touches from the goalkeeper.
It
was an early warning. Bilic is an aggressive manager who throws players
forward and attempts to attack first. His players were far more
smoothly into their rhythm than the Londoners, on a pitch which was
heavily watered but not as slick as Arsenal are used to in the Barclays
Premier League.
Nine
minutes later, Ba, who scored a hat-trick in the last qualifying round
against Feyenoord, was in again. This time, he collected a cross from
former Arsenal trainee Oguzhan Ozyakup and hit the target but Szczesny
sprung to his left to beat it away.
Ba,
who almost joined Arsenal on loan from Chelsea last summer, was highly
motivated and seemingly intent on reminding English football what he
does well, which is threaten the goal and make centre halves
uncomfortable. It is only three months since his goal at Liverpool
proved so influential in the destiny of the title.
Here he was again, reminding the Premier League they have no automatic right to four places in the Champions League proper.
Wenger’s
team were at full stretch and the Turkish fans turned up the volume. It
must have been quite an introduction to European football for Calum
Chambers.
In
the main, he handled his early tests with maturity belying his teenage
years, but was caught out two minutes before half-time when Ba jinked
past him and Nacho Monreal. The striker ought to have found the net but
pulled a drive horribly off target.
Szczesny
also saved from Veli Kavlak in the first half and yet in between these
Besiktas raids there were flickers of encouragement for Arsenal. Sanchez
and Santi Cazorla were enjoying space on the wings and used it
effectively.
Sanchez
found Giroud in front of goal but Pedro Franco smothered the danger as
he tried to work an effort on goal. Cazorla dashed across goal, left to
right, but dragged his shot wide and Jack Wilshere, after bouncing a
pass off Giroud, was denied by Tolga Zengin as he tried to curl a
left-footer around the goalkeeper.
Whatever
Arsenal did during the interval, they were unable to alter the pattern
of Besiktas dominance. Arsenal lost Arteta, hurt in a midfield tangle
with Ba. On came Mathieu Flamini.
Besiktas
remained positive and opened up another clear chance soon after the
restart. This time it was Olcay Sahan who was released on the left, and
cut inside on to his right foot, only to drift his shot wide of the far
post.
On
the touchline, Bilic became more agitated, taking umbrage with Chambers
for a tackle that went unpunished and then reacting angrily when Ramon
Motta was booked.
Referee
Milorad Mazic gave him a warning. Bilic briefly retreated but was soon
back on the edge of his large technical area. Perhaps what he said had
the desired effect, as Ramsey, Wilshere and Monreal were soon shown
yellow cards, cautions which can accumulate quickly and come back to
bite in European football. That proved the case with Ramsey, ejected
soon after.
Serbian
referee Milorad Mazic tried to calm the Croatian down. Bilic briefly
retreated but was soon back on the edge of his large technical area, his
antics as manic as ever.
He
went crazy at the fourth official when Mazic stopped play for Mathieu
Flamini to receive treatment when the ball smacked him in the face and
the Besiktas boss was sent to the stands in the final seconds of the
game, applauded all the way by the home fans.
Ramsey
was dismissed 10 minutes from time for a pull on Oguzhan Ozyakup in
midfield, his second such foul in the second half and the game ended
with a bottle hurled at Wenger as he stalked down the tunnel.
It missed. Another pitfall avoided by the Arsenal boss.
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