Olivier Giroud has been named in Arsenal's starting lineup for tonight's Champions League playoff clash with Besiktas in Istanbul.

The French striker was left out of the side to face Crystal Palace in the Gunners' opening match of the new Premier League season on Saturday but, with Yaya Sanogo not travelling with the squad, Arsene Wenger has brought Giroud back into the fold.

It is one of two changes for the English side, with Nacho Monreal also coming in to replace Kieran Gibbs at left-back.

Laurent Koscielny has passed a late fitness test to be included, while big-money summer signing Alexis Sanchez is also involved from the start.

Besiktas, meanwhile, start with Demba Ba up front after the former Chelsea man scored a hat-trick in their win over Feyenoord in the last round.

Slaven Bilic has also made two changes to his side from that victory, bringing in Ismail Koybasi and Oguzhan Ozyakup in place of Atiba Hutchinson and Kerim Frei.

Besiktas: Zengin; Koybasi, Franco, Gulum, Motta, Ozyakup, Uysal, Kavlak, Sahan, Pektemek, Ba
Subs: Gonen, Kurtulus, Sivok, Frei, Tosun, Boral, Tore

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

You can follow Sports Mole's live coverage of tonight's Champions League qualifier here.