Oğuzhan Özyakup is set to play his 100th game for Beşiktaş since joining from Arsenal in 2012 when they take on Eskişehirspor tonight.
Beşiktaş are currently second in the league five points behind Fenerbahçe but have two games in hand.
The Black Eagles will go first in the league if they win their next two games against Eskişehirspor and Trabzonspor.
Özyakup is almost certain to start for Beşiktaş after establishing himself as a key first-team player under the stewardship of head coach Şenol Güneş.
The Turkish international midfielder is currently the third highest – statistically – rated player in the Turkish league with a 7.44 average score.
Özyakup has a total of seven goals and six assists in all competitions for the Eagles this season.
The 23-year-old has pulled the strings in midfield for Beşiktaş this season and has created more chances than any other player in the league averaging 2.6 per-game.
Özyakup will be a name familiar to Arsenal youth football aficionados. He grew up under Arsene Wenger’s footballing philosophy and admired former Gunners stars such as Cecs Fabregaas as a youngster.
The Turkish international played a major role in Arsenal’s Under-18s side that won the Premier Academy League title in 2009 and made a few appearances in cup competitions for the Gunners before joining Beşiktaş in 2012 for a fee of €500,000.
The Netherlands born Turkish international has attracted interest from Premier League clubs including former side Arsenal according to Talksport.
See More
Arsenal & Man Utd target Ozyakup rules out January move
3 reasons Arsenal are right to target £15m valued former-youth player Ozyakup
