Besiktas v Arsenal: Gunners will zero in on group stage

Wojciech Szczesny remains Arsenal's first-choice goalkeeper

Michael Lintorn tips Arsenal to boost their Champions League qualifying chances with an away clean sheet...

Besiktas v Arsenal
Tuesday, 19:45
Live on ITV

Match Odds: Besiktas 5.69/2, Arsenal 1.748/11, The Draw 4.03/1

Most teams participating in Champions League qualifiers this week will be nervous: Napoli and Athletic Bilbao know that all their 2013/14 graft could be rendered obsolete in the space of three hours of football, while Celtic will be anxious not to blow their fortuitous second chance.

One club showing barely any fear though are Arsenal. They have consistently proven that no matter how early they are forced to enter - play-off round or group stage - they always find a way to the knockout phase. Their streak stands at a quite spectacular 14 successive last-16 appearances.

Besiktas are a solid side with an admired coach (Slaven Bilic) and lethal striker (Demba Ba), but they are no better than those that Arsenal have conquered in recent campaigns: Twente, Udinese and, just last term, a Fenerbahce squad who would finish 12 points clear of their third-placed Istanbul rivals.

The Gunners have won their previous 12 qualifying legs, whereas Besiktas haven't even competed in the Champions League for five years, so the visitors' 1.748/11 favouritism is entirely justified.

Arsenal clean sheet

After all the panic over a defensive Arsenal injury crisis, the latest news is that Kieran Gibbs and Laurent Koscielny are both in contention to start despite scares.

The FA Cup winners' backline have an incredible record on these occasions, keeping clean sheets in nine of their past 12 preliminary fixtures and claiming an even more impressive five out of six on their qualifying travels. Irrepressible Udinese forward Antonio Di Natale is responsible for the sole gap in their shutout collection, firing past them in 2011.

You might think that Ba has similar potential to elude a unit which has kept five of its last seven opponents quiet, but the former West Ham, Newcastle and Chelsea attacker notched in only one of his five clashes with them for those clubs, and in neither of his two at home.

Best Bet: Back Arsenal to keep a clean sheet @ 2.568/5
Other Recommended Bet: Back Arsenal to win to nil @ 3.02/1