Basel travel to London to take on Arsenal at the Emirates tonight, in the second group fixture of the campaign.
The Gunners currently sit top of their group, albeit having absolutely no point or goal advantage over any of their rivals. Both sides played out 1-1 draws in the opening group game, leaving Arsenal top on away goals, followed by their alphabetical advantage.
Arsenal will be looking to gain their first win of the season tonight, but it is not expected to be easy.
Our Swiss rivals have been in incredible form domestically, winning all of their 11 matches in the Swiss Super League and Schweizer Pokal (Swiss Cup).
Arsenal’s record is not half as good so far this term, but having scored 11 goals in our last three matches, including a 3-0 demolition of title rivals Chelsea, our side will be full of confidence coming into this match-up.
We appear likely to grant Granit Xhaka a rare start tonight, with Francis Coquelin having picked up an injury in our win against the Blues at the weekend. Olivier Giroud, Aaron Ramsey and Gabriel Paulista will also miss out, with the former suspended and the remainder also in the physio room.
David Ospina is also likely to feature, having starred in our encounter with Paris Saint-Germain two weeks ago.
Our Swiss signing is set to take on his brother Taulant Xhaka once again, having also played against him for Switzerland against Albania during Euro 2016.
Predicted XI:
Ospina
Bellerin Mustafi Koscielny Monreal
Xhaka Elneny
Walcott Ozil Iwobi
Sanchez
Our current form is unstoppable, and you cant expect anything less than a win, despite our opponents form. Basel should not be under-estimated, and we will have to show them respect, but we should come away with a 3-1 win.
Pat J
Elneny? any changes to the starting XI aside Ospina for Cech n Xhaka for Coq means we are underrating Basel even when all clubs in the group have a point each and that is unwise.
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why bench Cazorla? this is not an old-club-reunion match, it’s a must-win UCL game probably more important than any EPL game.
It’s called rotation my friend and Cazorla could do with a well earned rest. ?
Nah, don’t agree – Santi has to start
Rest Santi against Burnley. Bring in Elneny for Santi against Basel if we build a solid lead.
Do you honestly want to start the same 11 every week? This is Arsenal – we’ll have half the squad injured by november that way.
This is a home match, only the second group match, and our starting XI just played an exhausting 90 against Chelsea. Lets see Ospina, Gibbs, either Holding or Gabriel, Elneny and Xhaka, Lucas Perez, and Ox. If we’re winning, consider bringing on Maitland-Niles and Chuba Akpom.
Our backups are capable, and to keep them hungry, they must believe that their success will be rewarded with game time.
start with
Ospina
Bellerin,Mustafi,Koscielny,Monreal
Xhaka,Cazorla
Walcott,Ozil,Iwobi
Alexis
…
then in the 2nd half you bring in ELNENY for Cazorla, LUCAS for Iwobi n OX for Walcott
May be we can replace Gibbs with Monreal as he needs a game time,
Basel also have a decent record against English clubs, beating Utd, Chelsea and Liverpool in the champions league and the Spuds in the Europooh league.
If our player’s think that they only need to turn up for tonight’s game then they will be in for a nasty surprises.
I would like to see Perez start, aswell as Xhaka and Elneny.
it’s not an FAcup or EFL game it’s a UCL game which could go a long way to decide who qualifies and ultimately who tops the group.
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you don’t rest key players in UCL, u rest them for UCL.
I prefer CECHS!!!
On what? ?. .. Your lumber jack shirt’s or your table cloth?
You’re in good form today Fatboy, 3 posts and 3 thumbs up from me!
FYI: Arsenal to wear away kit at Emirates today.
“The strange situation has come about because Basel’s home kit is red, blue and black which clashes with Arsenal’s home strip, while the Swiss team’s away shirt is white and deemed unacceptable by Uefa because of Arsenal’s white shirt sleeves.
The obvious solution would be for Basel to wear their third kit, but there’s a slight issue there: they don’t have one. So Arsenal have stepped up and will wear their yellow away kit at the Emirates tonight. “
I don’t feel comfortable in that yellow jersey at all..
Hahaha ? Don’t wear it then. ?
Lmao…what did u mean by that? Am comfortable with any Jersey the boys put on as long as the lads ain’t filing to the pitch stark naked.
It is always here we arectalking about rotation.look at barca or real madrid or atletico how many times they do rotation??
I think we should play all f our starters unless they have
1. minor injuries
2. Wenger believes a player needs rest
3. Player asks for rest (unlikely)
We can always rest a few players against Burnley
Also there will be 2 week international break (not all players will play)
Also FA Cup Home against Reading end of next month is good time for rest
I am not saying we shouldn’t rotate. Of course we should but until we are guaranted progressing from this group we need to play our best players
ie
BASEL
Cech
bellerin….kosciely…mustafi..monreal
Xhaka …..Cazorla
Ozil
wlcott……iwobi
Alexis
BURNLEY
Ospina
bellerin….Holding…Mustafi…Gibbs
Xhaka, Eleney
Walcott…..Perez
Giroud
Ospina, Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal, Cazorla, Xhaka, Walcott, Ozil, Iwobi, Sanchez.
Subs: Cech, Gibbs, Gabriel, Elneny, Reine-Adelaide, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Lucas.