Alexis Sanchez's first goal for 10-man Arsenal saw the Gunners book their place in the group stages of the Champions League at the expense of Besiktas this evening.
Having drawn the first leg in Turkey 0-0, Arsenal started brightly at the Emirates Stadium, but after Jack Wilshere and Santi Cazorla had spurned opportunities in quick succession early on, chances were few and far between, with Besiktas offering very little as an attacking threat.
However, just as it appeared that the two sides would head into the break level, Sanchez struck. Mesut Ozil freed the Chilean to the right side of the penalty area and he drilled a low effort underneath the body of visiting goalkeeper Tolga Zengin.
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The Gunners had plenty of openings to make sure of the outcome after the restart, but Sanchez, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Mathieu Debuchy were all guilty of wasting chances inside the area.
That would prove to be Debuchy's last contribution because on 75 minutes and having already been cautioned, the Arsenal full-back received a second booking and subsequently his marching orders for a late challenge.
As Besiktas poured forward in search of the away goal that would send them through, former Chelsea striker Demba Ba had the best opportunity in the 89th minute, but he failed to make a clean connection on the header and the ball drifted wide, taking with it his side's chances of reaching the group stages of the Champions League.
Liam Apicella
