{"id":1008,"date":"2016-09-28T09:07:50","date_gmt":"2016-09-28T13:07:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonfootball.com\/?p=1008"},"modified":"2016-09-28T09:07:50","modified_gmt":"2016-09-28T13:07:50","slug":"arsenal-v-basel-champions-league-match-preview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2016\/09\/28\/arsenal-v-basel-champions-league-match-preview\/","title":{"rendered":"Arsenal v Basel: Champions League Match Preview"},"content":{"rendered":"

After Arsenal<\/strong> pinched a point away at Paris Saint-Germain<\/strong>, they start their Champions League<\/strong> home campaign against FC Basel<\/strong>.\u00a0This will be the first competitive fixture against both clubs featuring Mohammed Elneny<\/strong> facing his former club and\u00a0a family reunion for the Xhaka brothers.<\/p>\n

Arsenal<\/h3>\n

Ars\u00e8ne Wenger’s<\/strong> men come into the fixture as favourites after winning five of their last six fixtures in all competitions. However, if last season’s Champions League group performances taught them anything, they must respect Basel. A resilient performance will ensure an Arsenal victory, with a quick start required to prevent a Swiss upset.<\/p>\n

Buoyant after Saturday’s 3-0 win over Chelsea<\/a>\u00a0and with Alexis Sanchez<\/strong>, Alex Iwobi<\/strong>\u00a0and Theo Walcott<\/strong> in good form, Basel should be concerned. Arsenal will miss Olivier Giroud<\/strong> as he serves a one match suspension, while a knee injury forces Francis Coquelin<\/strong>\u00a0out of contention.<\/p>\n

Former Basel midfielder Granit Xhaka<\/strong> is a likely replacement for Coquelin and\u00a0Lucas Perez<\/strong> could be fancied to lead Arsenal’s attack. David Ospina<\/strong> is likely to retain his position\u00a0after his heroic showing in Paris with\u00a0Laurent Koscielny <\/strong>and Shkodran Mustafi<\/strong> presumably remaining in central defence.<\/p>\n

Basel<\/h3>\n

While on paper FC Basel seem to be the underdogs, their recent history and players suggest otherwise. \u200eUrs Fischer’s men\u00a0have won seven consecutive league titles and are unbeaten in their last six games in all competitions, including a 1-1 draw with\u00a0Ludogorets<\/strong>. More alarming for Arsenal is RotBlau’s<\/em> record of only losing once against English opposition, a run including\u00a0a famous 2-1 win over Manchester United<\/strong>\u00a0and two wins over Chelsea<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Basel are likely to play a similar team previously seen against Ludogorets minus defender\u00a0Manuel Akanji<\/strong> and midfielder Kevin Bua.\u00a0<\/strong>While the Swiss league leaders have previously had Granit Xhaka, Mohammed\u00a0Salah<\/strong>\u00a0and Xherdan Shaqiri<\/strong>, their current squad features some deadly players; the hard tackling brother of Granit, Taulant Xhaka<\/strong>, Austrian international Marc Janko<\/strong> and Roma <\/strong>loanee Seydou Doumbia<\/strong>. In terms of style, Basel like to play a possession focused game meaning the pressing of Sanchez, Walcott and Xhaka will be required to slow down any threatening Swiss attacks.<\/p>\n

main photo<\/p>\n

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Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div>\n