It's a very bright start from the hosts, with Besiktas raiding down the left flank. Santi Cazorla is the unlikely last line of defence, getting a foot in on the edge of the box and just about getting that ball away. Arsenal will be happy to see the opening 10 minutes out here.

Former Arsenal forward John Hartson on BBC Radio 5 live

"What an audacious effort and he nearly pulled it off, Demba Ba! That will go down as a good save by the way. Wojciech Szczesny had to track back. If he wanted to get the crowd up early, Ba's certainly done that."

Tom Cairney draws first blood on the night with a cracking strike to give Blackburn a 1-0 lead at Norwich after 49 seconds. It possibly eclipses the goal the midfielder scored against Cardiff City on the opening night.

What a start! Demba Ba shoots from kick-off, he nearly catches out Wojciech Szczesny from the centre-circle and the ball hits the top of the crossbar!

Amazing opening, and a lucky escape for the Gunners. That was a fine effort...

Besiktas get us under way - it's not full in the Ataturk but it's loud enough!

The players are out in Istanbul then. It's a dodgy pitch, Arsenal have a teenage centre-half who's really a right-back - could this get tricky?

Image source, EPA

Former Arsenal forward John Hartson on BBC Radio 5 live

"It's a close one. Cesc Fabregas is 27, Ramsey 23. Cesc has been there, seen it, done it. He's been at Barcelona, which is a massive, massive club, and he was an Arsenal favourite.

"I've seen Ramsey grow up from a child when he was growing up in Wales. He showed great spirit coming back from a career-threatening injury. And now he's added goals to his games - 17 or 18 or last season and big goals in his last three games - the FA Cup final, in the Community Shield at Wembley and the winner at the weekend.

"If I was going for one, I would have to go for the Welshman, who also wears 16 - the same number I wore."

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger on ITV: "We want to go into the group stage and that's the best motivation. It's a tough game, it's windy and the pitch is not the best at all."

Manchester United:, external "#mufc has reached agreement with Sporting Lisbon to sign defender Marcos Rojo, subject to a medical and personal terms."

Besiktas: Zengin, Koybasi, Franco, Gulum, Ramon, Uysal, Pektemek, Ozyakup, Kavlak, Sahan, Ba. Subs: Gonen, Kurtulus, Sivok, Tore, Koyunlu, Tosun, Boral.

Arsenal: Szczesny, Debuchy, Chambers, Koscielny, Monreal, Arteta, Wilshere, Sanchez, Ramsey, Cazorla, Giroud. Subs: Martinez, Rosicky, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Flamini, Campbell, Bellerin, Miquel.

Referee: Milorad Mazic (Serbia)

Who would you choose - Cesc Fabregas or Aaron Ramsey?

Alex Smith:, external Ramsey as good as Zidane? Zidane is in a league of his own that shall never be reached again, purely masterful.

Matthew Burford:, external If Arsenal wanted Cesc they would have got him but Ramsey is as good now and is a better goal scorer than Cesc.

Vishnu Ladwa:, external I would take Fabregas' assists and Rambo's goals.

Let us know. You can text in to 81111 (UK Only), tweet us at #bbcfootball,, external post on our Facebook page, external or message us on our Google+ page., external

Image source, Getty Images

An update from Old Trafford:

Manchester United are set to confirm the signing of Argentina defender Marcos Rojo from Sporting Lisbon, with Nani returning to Portugal on loan as part of the deal.

The Portuguese club, which is listed on the stock exchange in Lisbon, said the transfer of Rojo is worth £16m.

Sporting have also confirmed that Nani is returning, seven years after the winger joining United, and tweeted:, external "Welcome home Nani."

United sources have indicated the Rojo deal is yet to be completed but a formal announcement is expected soon.

Image source, Getty Images

It's not just about Demba Ba. Arsenal will come up against another familiar face this evening, as former West Ham defender and guitarist Slaven Bilic is now coach of the Turkish side. Here he is playing a textbook 'G' chord.

As well as being a handy axeman old Slaven is also a decent motivator, and will not take any nonsense from his players tonight.

"Arsenal are favourites, but we have to believe," he says.

"We won't be doing on-the-pitch selfies with Alexis Sanchez, Mikel Arteta or Olivier Giroud. We are not here to swap shirts with them. No! We have a plan and we're a big club, too. Arsenal are the favourites, but we'll do our best."

Quite right sir...

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho was left purring at the performance of Cesc Fabregas in Monday's win over Burnley, calling him a "maestro".

In his Premier League debut for the club, the midfielder had a hand in all three goals in a 3-1 victory and made the kind of impact that reinforced Mourinho's view of what the Spaniard will bring to his team.

In pre-season, Mourinho described Fabregas as "the missing piece of our engine", and said he was delighted to attract the sort of "football brain" his side were missing.

A good start then - but is he better than Aaron Ramsey? Let us know...

Image source, Empics

Besiktaş have won their last 12 home games in the qualifying phases of Uefa competitions since a 1-1 draw with Hapoel Haifa in the 1999-00 Champions League second qualifying round.

Their aggregate score in those games has been 27-3, and new signing Demba Ba is in good touch. The ex-Chelsea and Newcastle man scored a hat-trick in the last round and has scored goals against the Gunners before.

Who would you choose - Cesc Fabregas or Aaron Ramsey?

Jack McGrath:, external Ramsey, because of his defensive intelligence in addition to Fabregas's vision and technique.

Michael Jeffers:, external Man Utd fan, Fabregas all day long, far better with ball and been doing it at highest level for how long, European experience.

Henry Kamp:, external Ramsey is the best midfielder in the world. On par with Zidane in his prime. Cesc is a flop.

Let us know. You can text in to 81111 (UK Only), tweet us at #bbcfootball,, external post on our Facebook page, external or message us on our Google+ page., external

Former Arsenal forward John Hartson on BBC Radio 5 live

"It's important for Arsenal to be in the Champions League. They finished in the top four when they wanted the top three but we are where we are and they could have done without this game. Arsene Wenger has picked a very strong side and it's important that they are in those group stages.

"The finances are important. When you sign players like Alexis Sanchez, Mathieu Debuchy and Calum Chambers that's close to £60m and that's what makes this game very tricky and it's never easy coming to Turkey.

"Arsenal's is a strong side, Wenger's added two defenders and a midfielder-attacker. But I still they are think a couple of players short. I would like to see them bring in a striker, someone like Loic Remy, to take the pressure off Giroud and Sanogo. They could do with someone who can score 18-20 goals."

BBC World Service sports reporter John Bennett:, external Last time Demba Ba scored against Arsenal, Arsene Wenger's side won 7-3. Ba found the net twice but Newcastle were beaten at the Emirates.

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal have yet to lose over 90 minutes against Turkish sides, conceding just twice in seven meetings.

But they do have painful memories in there. The 2000 Uefa Cup final was won by Galatasaray on penalties after a 0-0 draw, with Patrick Vieira and Davor Suker missing the decisive kicks.

Ajay in London via text: Cesc was a great player for Arsenal, technically gifted but in Rambo we have a box to box player and a real match winner.

Destiny Ojo via text: Personally on run of form I would have Ramsey but you can never ignore the class of Fabregas.

Andrew via text: Tonight's game could be tricky enough for Arsenal, you won't find a louder, more passionate crowd than Besiktas anywhere else in European football. An early goal to silence the crowd would be ideal, but a score draw would be a great result tonight.

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