Aaron Ramsey was sent off as Arsenal and Besiktas played out a
goalless draw in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League play-off.
Arsenal midfielder Ramsey was given his marching orders 10 minutes from time in Istanbul on Tuesday for the first time in his club career for a second bookable offence after pulling Oguzhan Ozyakup's shirt and will miss the return clash at the Emirates Stadium next Wednesday.
Both sides had their chances in a scrappy encounter and substitute Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain came closest three minutes from time when his strike came back off the post, but defeat would have been harsh on Besiktas.
Demba Ba almost gave the Turkish side, who were backed by a hostile crowd at their temporary Ataturk Olympic Stadium home while the Vodafone Arena is being redeveloped, a stunning lead with a speculative lob right from the kick-off and was a real handful for the Arsenal defence.
Besiktas will have to spring a major surprise in order to progress, as Arsenal have reached the group stage 16 years in a row and have won all 12 Champions League qualifying matches in which they have featured in.
Arsenal midfielder Ramsey was given his marching orders 10 minutes from time in Istanbul on Tuesday for the first time in his club career for a second bookable offence after pulling Oguzhan Ozyakup's shirt and will miss the return clash at the Emirates Stadium next Wednesday.
Both sides had their chances in a scrappy encounter and substitute Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain came closest three minutes from time when his strike came back off the post, but defeat would have been harsh on Besiktas.
Demba Ba almost gave the Turkish side, who were backed by a hostile crowd at their temporary Ataturk Olympic Stadium home while the Vodafone Arena is being redeveloped, a stunning lead with a speculative lob right from the kick-off and was a real handful for the Arsenal defence.
Besiktas will have to spring a major surprise in order to progress, as Arsenal have reached the group stage 16 years in a row and have won all 12 Champions League qualifying matches in which they have featured in.
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