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After a cagey final few minutes, Arsenal will feature in Europe’s premier football competition for the 17th consecutive season after they secured a 1-0 win at home to Besiktas.
Alexis Sanchez scored the winner on the stroke of halftime after he intervened on a Jack Wilshere one-two pass before slotting it past a hapless Tolgen Zengin in goal.
Arsenal were in control for the majority of the game but were unable to finish off a Besiktas side that refused to go away.
Besiktas defended bravely throughout the game’s entirety but lacked the creativity and spark going forward to really threaten Wojciech Szczesny in Arsenal’s goal.
They were spearheaded by former Chelsea and Newcastle United striker Demba Ba but unfortunately for Ba and his teammates he was unable to get the ball in the right spaces and as a result failed to fire for the majority of the game but still nearly managed to grab an equaliser towards the end, failing to get his head on the end of a sublime cross from Gokhan Tore.
Wilshere was outstanding for Arsenal after an ordinary game on the weekend against Everton.
Against Besiktas he was superb again, and in the absence of Aaron Ramsey provided the drive and spark in Arsenal’s midfield and even set up the game’s only goal after playing a nice one-two pass with Mesut Ozil before Alexis Sanchez intercepted the return ball and tucked it away neatly to the left of Zengin.
Sanchez opened his account for the Gunners and he couldn’t have picked a better game to get his name on the score sheet. Not only did Arsenal secure a place in this year’s Champions League but the club is also expected to receive up to 25 million pounds in added revenue from featuring in Europe’s premier competition.
Sanchez basically validated his enormous 35 million pound price tag in one game by scoring the 25 million pound goal that put the Gunners through. Sanchez was lively and put in a good performance but one can not help but feel that his talents and work ethic would be better suited in a wider position.
He looked most dangerous out on the right wing, counter attacking and taking on defenders but he is not a clinical, lethal striker in front of goal and it shows, despite scoring Arsenal’s only goal of the game.
Arsenal were great at moving the ball up the field but lacked killer instinct when they needed it most.
Ozil, Oxlaide-Chamberlain and Cazorla made enormous improvements from their last game against Everton and looked much more comfortable in their roles.
Oxlaide-Chamberlain took up position on the right wing and reveled in his opportunity out wide as he was able to use his speed and skill to draw defenders in and push the ball up the field and nearly made it two if it wasnt for a brilliant reaction save from Zengin.
Ozil will need more time to adapt to his position on the left as he is currently more inclined to occupying a more central role, and it shows.
His class and skill is undeniable but the subtle differences between central and wide positions was telling tonight and the adjustment may take some time.
He improved defensively and was the catalyst for Arsenal’s best move of the night but will need to find ways to stay engaged if he is to continue down Arsenal’s left.
The Gunners were better tonight but they are in desperate need of a natural goalscorer.
Sanchez is trying very hard to masquerade as a natural striker but in actuality he is a born winger, albeit a very good one.
With news breaking after the game that Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud will be sidelined until late December/ early January, Arsenal will need to get their hands on a marksman quickly, otherwise their title hopes and European aspirations could be jeopardised quickly.
The added revenue form qualifying for the Champions League may just give them enough funds to pursue a top quality striker and the confirmation of Champions League football may suffice in persuading a Falcao, Cavani or Martinez in joining the Gunners.
Arsenal were good tonight but they still have room for improvement as they appeared to start to coast in a game they had simply no right in doing. They had better quality players in nearly every single position on the field but they let Besiktas back into the game and showed real signs of fatigue towards the end.
The Champions League is a better competition with Arsenal in it, but if they wish to progress to the business end they will have to add depth to their squad, particularly at striker.
Arsenal were always going to miss the quality of a player like Olivier Giroud but if they fail to find a suitable replacement in the form of a natural and proven goalscorer it will be a very long season for the North Londoners.
Arsene Wenger has uncharacteristically splashed the cash already this offseason and the thought of him doing it twice in the one offseason is unfathomable.
He has until the end of the week to secure himself a quality marksman otherwise it could prove to be a long season for the players and an even longer one for the fans.
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