Match Preview: Arsenal v Fenerbahçe SK; Champion’s League Playoff

Remarkably, after the turmoil that has engulfed Arsenal after the match on Saturday, I am calm. I shouldn’t be. A trip to Turkey is no thing to scoff about. But frankly, the match between Arsenal v Fenerbahçe is likely a moot point. But hey for 90 minutes we can forget all that.

Why is it a moot point you ask? Well, Fenerbahçe were previously banned from Europe by UEFA. The reason this match is going forward is that Fenerbahçe have appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to rule on its ban from Europe. CAS recently ruled that one of the other clubs banned – Metalist – should NOT be rienstated. So, not a lot is in favor for Fenerbahçe. The ruling on the appeal happens after the second leg. It’s quite possible that Arsenal could lose and still wind up in the group stages.

Still why leave anything to chance. Arsenal need to win. For so many reasons. The club find themselves in a whirl wind of bad press. It’s of their own doing. But every day there is either a bad article, a 30 minute radio show, podcast or blog piece about all that ills Arsenal at the moment. Frankly, we need something to at least for the moment restore some pride.

Now, don’t take for a moment that a win masks over any of the issues that have been brought up here or in other forums. No, it doesn’t but at the very least it gets us to focus on what football is about – the competition.

The powers that be at Arsenal have allowed that to be taken away from us. Now our focus lies on what happens off the pitch. It’s why regardless of the results, I just want to watch a match. For 90 minutes we can leave that all behind.

Now Turkey is not an easy trip. Fenerbahçe ultras are already stirring things up for Arsenal and it’s supporters. Reports came out last night that “activity” was going on outside the players hotel. Additionally, my twitter feed and others was polluted with Fenerbahçe ultras making threats to Arsenal supporters.

Arsenal haven’t fared too bad in the past in Istanbul. Their last visit resulted in a 5-2 win with the likes of Silvestre and Diaby getting on the score sheet.

Arsenal head to Turkey with some good news. Coming out of Villa it was assumed that we could be without Sagna, Ramsey, Rosicky, and Gibbs. All have passed fit and are likely to play some part. Look for Sagna to get rested though. Even though is “fine” the fall looked nasty and Jenkinson is proving to be a solid back up to the French international. Koscielny will be in the lineup as his 1 match ban is domestic.

Players to watch:
Arsenal: Lukas Podolski. Arsenal’s leading scorer in the Champion’s League last season. He scored some beauties. With Oxlade Chamberlain out, look for Santi to swtich to the middle and Poldi to take flight on the left.   

Fenerbahçe:  Dirk Kuyt. He nows Arsenal well from his days maurauding down the Liverpool flank. Will look for a Champion’s League group stage return by beating his former Premier League foe

Projected Lineups:
Arsenal: Szczesny; Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs;  Wilshere, Ramsey, Cazorla;  Podolski, Walcott; Giroud

Fenerbahçe: Volkan, Topal, Yobo, Kuyt, Meireles, Alves, Kadlec, Belözoğlu, Alper Potuk, Topuz, Webó

Arsenal Injuries and Suspensions:
Oxlade-Chamberlain (knee) Vermaelen (back) Diaby(knee) Arteta (thigh)

Head to Head Tournament Stats:

Match Official:
Referee: Gianluca Rocchi (ITA)
Assistant referees: Elenito Di Liberatore (ITA) , Gianluca Cariolato (ITA)
Additional assistant referees: Mauro Bergonzi (ITA) , Andrea Gervasoni (ITA)
Fourth official: Alessandro Giallatini (ITA)

Broadcast Information:
US: FoxSoccer 2Go 2:45 PM EST

UK:SkySports 1 1945 GMT/20.45 CET

YAMA Prediction:
Arsenal: 2

Fenerbahçe: 1

Match Facts (courtesy UEFA Press Kit:)

• Arsenal were 5-2 winners when they last visited the Sükrü Saraçoglu Stadium in the 2008/09 UEFA Champions League group stage – a result that ended Fenerbahçe’s 15-match unbeaten home run in Europe.
•  Arsenal also got the better of a Fenerbahçe team coached by Ersoy Sükrü in the first round of the 1979/80 European Cup Winners’ Cup. Terry Neill’s side – who went on to reach the final – won 2-0 at home through Alan Sunderland (30) and Willie Young (87) before a goalless draw in Istanbul.
• League runners-up in Turkey last term, Fenerbahçe are bidding to return to the group stage for the first time since that 2008/09 campaign. They missed out on a sixth appearance 12 months ago, suffering a play-off defeat by FC Spartak Moskva, but instead reached their first ever European semi-final in the UEFA Europa League before losing to SL Benfica.
• In seven home games in last season’s UEFA Europa League, Fenerbahçe posted four wins, two draws and just one defeat.
• Fenerbahçe came up against Premier League opposition in the 2007/08 UEFA Champions League quarter-finals, beating Chelsea FC 2-1 at home but losing 2-0 in the second leg in London. Their overall home record against English sides is W3 D1 L3.
• Fenerbahçe’s only two-legged win against an English team was a 2-1 aggregate success against Manchester City FC in the 1968/69 European Champion Clubs’ Cup first round.
• Fourth in the English Premier League last term, Arsenal have a 100% record in UEFA Champions League qualifiers, winning both legs as they overcame each of NK Dinamo Zagreb (2006/07, agg 5-1), AC Sparta Praha (2007/08, agg 5-0), FC Twente (2008/09, agg 6-0), Celtic FC (2009/10, agg 5-1) and Udinese Calcio (2011/12, agg 3-1).
• Arsenal have never played in the rebranded UEFA Europa League and their last game in the old UEFA Cup was actually the 1999/2000 final, which they lost 4-1 on penalties to Galatasaray AŞ after a 0-0 draw – their only other meeting with a Turkish team.
• Arsenal reached the last 16 of last term’s UEFA Champions League before succumbing to FC Bayern München, the eventual winners, on away goals. Their 2-0 second-leg victory in Munich left them with a record of W2 D1 L1 on the road in 2012/13.