3 things you need to know from Wednesday's Champions League action

The final day of Champions League play-offs saw five clubs snatch the last available spots in the group stage of the tournament. 10-man Arsenal got the job done at the Emirates Stadium, Athletic Bilbao exploded in the second half against Napoli, and Cosmin Moti of Ludogorets Razgrad enjoyed what must have been the craziest day of his life. theScore's Carlo Campo and Devang Desai run down three things you need to know from Wednesday's action.

Alexis Sanchez scores first-ever Arsenal goal to send Gunners through

Carlo Campo: With Olivier Giroud out until the end of the calendar year due to an ankle injury, it was somewhat fitting that Alexis Sánchez scored his first-ever Arsenal goal to give the Gunners a 1-0 win on aggregate versus Besiktas and help his side reach the group stage of the Champions League for a 17th successive season.

There were, understandably, some concerns about Sánchez being deployed as a lone striker as it's not a tactic that's familiar to the Chilean and he's developed a tendency to drop deeper and deeper since joining Barcelona in 2011. He even acts as a playmaker for Chile's national team, servicing Eduardo Vargas with precision-perfect through balls.

But in what was something of a throwback to his days at Udinese - when he was paired in front of goal with Antonio Di Natale - Sánchez consistently threatened Besiktas in the box, and his efforts were rewarded just before the interval when he slotted home a ball from Mesut Ozil.

The goal was inevitable, however, as Arsenal have now scored in all seven of their Champions League play-off matches at home.

Devang Desai: Arsenal never make it easy on themselves. That was the case on Wednesday night in North London, where a valiant Besiktas side refused to let things play to script.

A Besiktas penalty shot in the first half, and a Demba Ba chance near the end of regular time, were the visitors' best chance at ending Arsenal's remarkable Champions League run.

Instead, the Gunners entered the Champions League group stage for the 17th straight time. It wasn't all good news, however, with Arsene Wenger confirming Olivier Giroud's absence until late December after the French forward underwent surgery on his tibia. 

Wenger was steadfast during his post-match press conference, vowing he is not in the market for another striker, but we've seen this before. Don't be surprised if the Gunners are major players before the close of the summer transfer window.

Athletic Bilbao reach group stage of Champions League for first time in 16 years

CC: Ander Herrera must be second-guessing his move from Athletic Bilbao to Manchester United right now. While the Red Devils are absent from European competition for the first time since 1989-90, Bilbao are sitting in the group stage of the Champions League for the first time since in 16 years.

The Spanish club, however, did get some help from Napoli's backline, which failed to show up in the second half and provided Bilbao with three remarkably easy goals.

Artiz Aduriz's first goal of the night was the result of some shambolic defending on a corner kick, as not a single Napoli player picked up the Bilbao striker near the far post. He had all the time in the world to slot the ball home. Then, only eight minutes later, Arduiz scored with ease once again when he burst through two Napoli defenders who failed to communicate properly on a long ball.

But Bilbao's third goal of the night may have been the most embarrassing. Although Ibai Gómez was undeniably offside on the play, confusion among Napoli's defenders allowed Gómez to waltz in alone following a through ball from Unai Lopez.

One. Two. Three. Napoli's Champions League is over.

DD: Serie A will only have two teams in the Champions League group stage this year, and really, that's not too surprising.

Napoli crashed out of their Champions League play-off against Athletic Bilbao, displaying the kind of defence that left Rafa Benitez shaking his head.

Things were looking up when Marek Hamsik broke the deadlock two minutes into the second half, but it went downhill from there. Three Bilbao goals in 13 minutes, all of the comical variety, ended Napoli's Champions League campaign.

Get ready for those Gonzalo Higuain transfer rumours. Surely, they are coming.

As for Italy's domestic jewel, things remain bleak. Portugal maintains fourth in UEFA's co-efficient rankings and that isn't changing anytime soon.

Defender Cosmin Moti helps Ludogorets Razgrad reach group stage with heroic goalkeeping performance in shootout

CC: In scenes that you've probably never seen and may never see again, Ludogorets Razgrad centre-back Cosmin Moti was forced to take over as the Bulgarian team's keeper in the final minutes of extra time, and made a pair of unbelievable saves in the subsequent shootout to help his side reach the group stage of the Champions League for the first time in the club's history.

It's also worth noting that the match had only gone into extra time following a 90th-minute equalizer from Ludogorets attacking midfielder Wanderson.

Moti, who was coincidentally born in Romania, was forced to slip on the gloves when Vladislav Stoyanov received a red card in the 119th minute four a vicious tackle on Steaua Bucharest's Fernando Varela. Ludogorets had already used up all their up all three of their substitutions, leaving the club with no other option.

What ensued, however, was even wilder.

The makeshift 'keeper guessed correctly on all four of Bucharest's first four shots, and was able to stop Paul Pîrvulescu's penalty to ensure that the match continued into extra penalties. Then, with the chance to help Ludogorets clinch a spot in the group stage, Moti once again guessed correctly and caught Cornel Rapa's penalty after diving to his right side.

Expect Aug. 27 to forever be known as "Moti Day" in Bulgaria.

DD: This is why we watch. 

Farias Wanderson sent Ludogorets Arena into a frenzy when he notched a late equalizer for the Bulgarian club, but nobody expected that moment to be overshadowed by the exploits of Cosmin Moti. 

[Courtesy: Sportsnet]

The chances we hear Cosmin Moti's name in any sort of meaningful context in the near future are slim, but that doesn't matter. For one day, the Romanian who broke Romanian hearts is the story of the football world.

This game can be pretty special sometimes.