Alexis Sanchez’s first Arsenal goal earned his side a nervy 1-0 victory over Besiktas on Wednesday that saw them squeeze into the Champions League for the 17th consecutive season.
The Chilean, Arsenal’s number 17, repaid the first instalment of his £30 million ($50.4 million, 37.6 million euros) transfer fee by tucking away a low shot in first-half stoppage time, but the hosts’ inability to kill the game off made for a night of nail-biting tension at the Emirates Stadium.
Mathieu Debuchy’s dismissal for two yellow cards meant that Arsenal saw out the last 15 minutes with 10 men, but although a solitary goal would have been enough to send the Turkish side through after last week`s goalless draw in Istanbul, the hosts held on for a 1-0 aggregate win.
Arsene Wenger’s side, who lost to Bayern Munich in the last 16 last season, will discover the identities of their group-phase opponents in Thursday’s draw.
