Granit Xhaka and Taulant Xhaka clash again in Arsenal vs Basel after their meeting at Euro 2016 for Switzerland vs Albania
The two Xhaka brothers square off as both players look to help their side to their first win in the group
BROTHERS Granit and Taulant Xhaka are once again going head-to-head with one another as Arsenal face Basel in the Champions League.
With both sides looking to get their first win of the group, the siblings know all about the bragging rights that come with getting one over your family.
Bizarrely, the two played against each other in this summers European Championships in France, where Granit, 24, represented Switzerland and Taulant, 25, wore the colours of Albania.
Arsenal's £35 million man won that battle with his country running out 1-0 winners, with Taulant looking to help Basel become the first Swiss side to record a victory over the Gunners.
Taulant Xhaka, a centre-back, claims both his parents who are at the game tonight, want his team Basel to secure the win "for their heart" after they settled there since moving from Kosovo.
The defender said of playing against Granit:"It will be special. We both go into it with the same thoughts, that we need to win and give everything.
"We won’t tell each other how the teams play – we are professional. I hope that after the game we can meet quickly. I need to ask the coach, so hopefully we win and he’s in a good mood.
"I don’t think I’m in Granit’s shadow – it’s not a thing for me."
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Arsenal go into the game having stolen a point away at Paris-Saint German thanks to a late Alexis Sanchez equaliser.
Basel also drew their opening match of Group A at home to Bulgarian side Ludogorets.
XHAKA WATCH
STYLE
Granit looks every inch a superstar footballer, tall, muscular and lean. And he plays with some style too, covering the ground in midfield, linking play and putting in tackles when needed.
Taulant is the opposite – rugged, thick set and looking as though he needs to put more effort in than his brother. Happy to throw himself in front of the ball and put his head in where it hurts, the Basel defender is a maximum grit kind of player.
TACKLING
Taulant is happy to mix it, and wasted no time announcing himself on the game with a crunching – yet fair- challenge on Alexis Sanchez that left the striker in a heap.
Granit is not afraid of putting his foot in, but he was so comfortable at times he didn’t need to put in a tackle – though there was one little moment when he appeared to leave his foot in on Alexander Fransson, just to let Basel know he was there.
IMPACT
With Granit in the holding role, Arsenal looked to have great balance to their team.
It may only have been against a poor Basel side, but he was no fuss, tidy and allowed the playmakers around him the freedom to create.
Taulant won’t be happy with his role in Arsenal’s opening goal as he switched off to allow Theo Walcott in to head home behind him.
But he then made amends with a series of brave blocks and stopped a certain goal with a last ditch interception to deny Mesut Ozil just after the break.
VALUE TO TEAM
Very early in his Arsenal career, the jury is still out on how vital Granit will be for Arsenal, but the signs are promising.
The Switzerland star provides a calm assurance in the holding role, athleticism and physical presence.
He still has to dislodge Francis Coquelin from the side on a regular basis, but don’t be surprised if he becomes a key player as the season progresses.
Taulent is integral to Basel, playing the central role in a five-man defence.
He lacks the height of his other defenders but he leads by example and never stops organising his teammates around him.
VERDICT
It’s hard to criticise Taulant because there were times he was faced with a blistering Arsenal onslaught as Basel were overrun.
But he did switch off for the crucial opening goal that set the tone for the evening, so younger brother Granit just gets the nod overall.
Composed, effective and reassuring, he looks a sound investment from the Gunners.
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