{"id":1039,"date":"2016-09-28T16:58:00","date_gmt":"2016-09-28T20:58:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonfootball.com\/?p=1039"},"modified":"2016-09-28T18:07:32","modified_gmt":"2016-09-28T22:07:32","slug":"walcott-on-form-as-arsenal-beat-basel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2016\/09\/28\/walcott-on-form-as-arsenal-beat-basel\/","title":{"rendered":"Walcott On Form As Arsenal Beat Basel"},"content":{"rendered":"

A first half Theo Walcott<\/strong> brace\u00a0secured three points for a\u00a0rampant Arsenal\u00a0<\/strong>side as they\u00a0beat Basel<\/strong> 2-0.<\/p>\n

After some early pressure, Walcott headed Arsenal into the lead in the seventh minute, converting an\u00a0Alexis Sanchez<\/strong> cross from close range. Ars\u00e8ne Wenger<\/strong>‘s men continued to press and trouble Basel’s defenders with the visitors unable to prevent non-stop Arsenal attacks.<\/p>\n

Walcott doubled Arsenal’s lead with a far post finish inside the box after a quick one-two outside Basel’s penalty area. Alexis again the provider, a player embodying\u00a0Arsenal’s relentless attitude with his tireless runs, troubling passes and quick footwork.<\/p>\n

Walcott On Form As Arsenal Beat Basel<\/h3>\n

Arsenal had two penalty calls denied after Basel keeper\u00a0Tom\u00e1\u0161 Vacl\u00edk<\/strong> pulled down Alexis. While play continued, Walcott picked up the loose ball but was tripped\u00a0by\u00a0\u00c9der \u00c1lvarez Balanta<\/strong>‘s late tackle. Replays show the Englishman<\/strong> had a legitimate case for a penalty, however the referee disagreed, perhaps showing Basel some sympathy.<\/p>\n

Throughout the night Arsenal played slick and intricate passes in Basel’s final third, often confusing\u00a0and tangling the legs of Basel’s defenders. Alexis’ tireless performance deserved a goal, Alex Iwobi<\/strong> played effective passes in his side’s build up and Theo Walcott looked a man rejuvenated after his excellent start to the season. Vaclik tried his best to deny further Arsenal goals and one may wonder what the scoreline\u00a0if he were not in goal.<\/p>\n

Arsenal made two changes from Saturday’s 3-0 win against Chelsea<\/strong> with David Ospina<\/strong> and Granit Xhaka<\/strong> replacing Petr Cech<\/strong> and Francis Coquelin<\/strong> respectively. Ospina was largely untested but pulled off an excellent save from\u00a0Birkir Bjarnason<\/strong>‘s long range effort.<\/p>\n

Basel’s only source of attacks came from corner set pieces and the odd long range shot. The North London side\u00a0looked relatively untroubled\u00a0with evidence a Laurent Koscielny<\/strong>\/Shodkran Mustafi<\/strong> partnership is continuing to blossom.<\/p>\n

The second half started in the same vain as the first; Arsenal continuing to threaten\u00a0seeking a third goal\u00a0but was repeatedly denied by a more alert Basel defence. Alex Iwobi collected a pass from midfield before toe poking his shot wide before Alexis later missed an almost open goal.<\/p>\n

After 70 minutes of dominating possession and harassing Basel’s defenders, the home side opted to slow the game down. A professional but pragmatic response to their first half performance and to avoid any late Basel comeback. Substitute Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain almost pinched a late third goal after countering from a Ospina save with his pass to Alexis saved by Vaclik.<\/p>\n

Three points for Arsenal means they remain in second in Group A<\/strong> with four points and +2 Goal Difference. Group leaders Paris Saint-Germain<\/strong> meanwhile beat Ludogorets<\/strong>\u00a03-1 to intensify the race for to top the group.<\/p>\n

Main Photo<\/p>\n

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