UCL Preview: Arsenal to continue good form vs Basel

Arsenal play their second Champions League group game tomorrow night against FC Basel and it is set to be a full house at the Emirates. Not so much because of the occasion, but such is the way their team is playing, no Gunners fan would want to miss out on another great performance.

Having won five out of their last six, with the 1-1 draw versus PSG being the only exception, this Arsenal side seems to have finally found its groove. An impressive addition to the backline, Mustafi has settled quickly with his centre back partner and has been solid in all his games. He brings a lot more than pace into a spot usually occupied by club captain Per Mertesacker. The younger German centre back is comfortable with the ball in both feet and has a good eye for a pass on the counter as well. Whenever the now internationally-retired German comes back from injury, he will have his work cut out for a return to the starting eleven.

At the same time, a lot of credit needs to go to the excellent Francis Coquelin who has been watching over the Arsenal defence in every game. His role as the “police officer” as Thierry Henry called him, maintains a great balance in shifting the ball from defence to attack. However, against FC Basel, Arsenal will miss their combative French midfielder due to a knee injury. The good news is that, unlike last year, he will only be out for 3 weeks. And also in contrast from last season, Arsenal have a more than ready (and adequate) replacement waiting in the wings.

Granit Xhaka will now start undisputed in the destroyer role alongside Santi Cazorla in midfield. Having not been given too many starts from the beginning of the season, Xhaka now has 3 full weeks to hold his place down in the starting 11. And while Wenger also has Mohammed Elneny at his disposal, who is a more natural destroyer as compared to the box-to-box nature of Xhaka, he will want his Swiss recruit to give a good return on the club’s investment straight away. The UCL fixture against his own brother, Taulant Xhaka, and one of his former clubs should be an excellent point to start for the player who has now scored two scorchers from his three shots on target.

With the defence and defensive midfield showing such cohesiveness, the results Arsenal have been getting are also indebted to the superb work being put in by their forwards and attacking midfielders. Alexis Sanchez looks set to continue plying his trade up top given Olivier Giroud’s suspension and more due to his spectacular form. Having been shifted from the left, many have questioned his ability to do less in a tighter spot and he has answered us all with his goals and assists. He’s a complete dynamite in any position and no centre half would be happy seeing him run at him from the centre or the left. In his absence from the flanks though, both Alex Iwobi and Theo Walcott have stepped up their game and will be looking to continue with their good form on home soil against their less-favored opponents. At the same time, Alex Oxlade Chamberlain will be looking to get in a good run out so as to keep up the pressure on his English and Nigerian teammates.

The only expected change in the team for tomorrow will be David Ospina coming in for Petr Cech in goal. The Columbian started the first European fixture for the Gunners this season and brought much flak to Arsène Wenger’s selection of him. That is, till the final whistle rang and everyone was in awe of his stellar performance which kept Arsenal in the game against PSG. He made some very critical saves and has definitely earned his spot for the next game at the very least. With Wenger quoted as saying, “I have two world-class goalkeepers”, he is surely set to be high on confidence and will be looking to go one better and get his first clean sheet of the season.

While predictions are not usually my go to thing, it would seem unfair not to throw one in a fan preview. I see (and hope) the Gunners keeping up their form and winning comfortably at home. If not, well, that should just give the writers (including myself) more material to discuss and write upon.

Prediction:

Arsenal 2 : 0 FC Basel