Fenerbahce vs Arsenal August 21, 2013

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Arsenal travel to Istanbul for the first leg of their Champions League qualifier with Fenerbahce. Arsene Wenger’s team suffered a disappointing 3-1 home loss to Aston Villa on Saturday and pressure is on the Arsenal manager and his team to gain a positive result in Turkey before the return leg at the Emirates next Tuesday. If Arsenal do qualify it will be the sixteenth season in a row that Arsene Wenger has led his team into European football’s elite competition.

Unlike their opponents, Fenerbahce have been busy in the transfer market bringing in Emmanuel Emenike, Michal Kadlec and Bruno Alves. However, manager Ersun Yanal will be disappointed with his team’s 3-2 loss in their opening league fixture against Konyaspor having led the game 2-0. Behind the scenes The Super Lig club could yet be thrown out of the Champions League if they win their tie against Arsenal as they await a ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport regarding accusations from Uefa of match-fixing.

KICK-OFF: Wednesday, 7.45pm

The need for complete focus could hardly be more acute. With Champions League football generally worth around £25 million, Wenger agreed on Tuesday that this two-legged play-off was “the most important” game of Arsenal’s entire season.
“We fought very hard last season to be in the top four and the game has a vital importance,” the manager said. “To be part of the top level, for us, is the most important. All the rest are the consequences of it. It will be a very hot atmosphere as it always is in Turkey. You always have an opportunity to show your personality.”
The omens ahead of tonight are mixed. Arsenal are seeking to extend their participation in the group phase of the Champions League to 16 consecutive years and, in that time, they have previously come through five play-off matches at a combined aggregate score of 24-3.
It is arguable, though, whether they have previously faced such dangerous opponents amid such a backdrop of negativity back home. As well as the supporters’ anger over Arsenal’s inactivity in the transfer market, injuries and form are a major concern.

PAST MEETINGS

Arsenal 0 Fenerbahce 0, Champions League, November 2008

Fenerbahce 2 (Silvestre og, Guiza) Arsenal 5 (Adebayor, Walcott, Diaby, Song, Ramsey), Champions League, October 2008

STATS…

Arsenal have won all five of their Champions League qualifiers (2011, 2009, 2008 , 2007 and 2006) They have also won all ten legs in these five ties.

Fenerbahce have never beaten Arsenal having lost two and drawn two of their four matches. Their biggest loss coming the last time they played Arsenal at home, losing 5-2 in 2008.

Arsenal’s home loss to Aston Villa was their first opening day defeat in twenty years.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa August 21, 2013

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Chelsea got the second Jose Mourinho era underway with a victory on Sunday, and they'll look to make it six points from two fixtures when Paul Lambert's side comes to town tomorrow. The Blues will be heavy favorites at home, and here's everything you need to know in advance of the season's second game.

The opening performances earned standing ovations, so can either Chelsea or Aston Villa provide a fitting encore?
Chelsea's first-half dismantling of Hull prolonged the feelgood factor prompted by the return to the dugout of Jose Mourinho.
The Portuguese praised the "fantastic quality" of the performance - although his continued pursuit of Wayne Rooney shows he will never rest on his laurels.
Chelsea inflicted a club record 8-0 defeat on Villa in the corresponding fixture last season, but Mourinho is wary of the visitors following their 3-1 win at Arsenal.
"It's not such a big surprise because Aston Villa can do that to any one of us," he said.
"They are a team with qualities to play away, to play the counter-attack game they played at the Emirates. They are a good team."

Villa head to Chelsea earlier than planned owing to the Blues' Uefa Super Cup commitments at the end of the month.
The date for the re-arranged fixture has annoyed Villa as it comes either side of games against Arsenal and Liverpool.
However, victory at the Emirates has left Paul Lambert's side confident they will give a far greater account of themselves than last December's meeting.
Captain Ron Vlaar said: "We all know what happened last year, so we want to put that to rest.
"We learnt a lot and we still have to learn a lot, but mentally we have become a stronger team."

Date/Time: Wednesday, August 21, 2013 at 19:45 BST, 2:45 pm EST, 11:45 am PST. Thursday August 22, 2013 at 00:15 IST. Use this time zone converter to figure out when the game is starting wherever you happen to be.

Venue/Location: Stamford Bridge, London, England