FC Basel vs Arsenal team news: Lucas Perez STARTS for Arsenal in Champions League
Arsene Wenger's side travel to Switzerland having already qualified - but want the three points to try top Group A
LUCAS PEREZ starts on the left tonight for Arsenal with Alexis Sanchez through the middle.
Sanchez was magnificent as the Gunners thrashed the Hammers 5-1 but had a slight knock at the end.
But Olivier Giroud will probably only make the bench, with Wenger set to field a strong side as he looks to capitalise if Paris Saint-Germain slip up against Ludogorets.
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Mohamed Elneny overcame illness to come on as a sub at the London Stadium and is pushing for a start, whilst Carl Jenkinson will hope injuries could result in a rare start.
Long term absentees Per Mertesacker, Santi Cazorla and Danny Welbeck are sidelined.
For the hosts, Manuel Akanji is out long term but Seydou Doumbia will likely start up front and has nine from 12 games this season.
The big picture
Arsenal have already qualified for the knockout stages but know topping the group would give them a safer passage through to the later rounds - for that, they need to better PSG's result against Ludogorets.
The squads
Arsenal: David Ospina, Emiliano Martinez, Petr Cech, Matthieu Debuchy, Gabriel, Laurent Koscielny, Rob Holding, Nacho Monreal, Shkodran Mustafi, Carl Jenkinson, Kieran Gibbs, Aaron Ramsey, Mesut Ozil, Santi Cazorla, Granit Xhaka, Jeff Reine-Adelaide, Francis Coquelin, Mohamed Elneny, Krystian Bielik, Alexis Sanchez, Lucas Perez, Olivier Giroud, Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Yaya Sanogo
Facts and stats
- Arsenal have won all five of their previous competitive encounters with Swiss clubs (10 goals scored, 1 conceded). This includes the 2-0 win against Basel in North London last September.
- Basel have won their last three Champions League home games against English clubs (Manchester Utd in November 2011, Chelsea in November 2013, Liverpool in October 2014).
- In fact, Basel have only lost two of their 11 Champions League encounters with English clubs (W4 D5).
- Arsenal have made it to the Champions League knockout stages for the 14th consecutive season but have been eliminated at the last 16 stage in the past six campaigns. They must better PSG's result to finish top of the group, a feat they haven't accomplished since 2011/12.
- Meanwhile, Basel have to better Ludogorets' result against PSG to finish third and secure a Europa League spot.
- Arsenal have won their final Champions League group game in each of the last two seasons after losing their previous three. It's also the eighth time in the last nine seasons that Arsenal's final group game is away from home.
- Basel have lost only two of their last eight Champions League home games (W3 D3), those defeats coming against Real Madrid and Paris SG.
- None of Basel's 25 home games in the Champions League has ever ended goalless.
- Meanwhile, none of Arsenal's last 40 away games in the Champions League has ended goalless. Their last 0-0 was at Slavia Prague in November 2007.
- Arsenal have not remained unbeaten in a Champions League group campaign since 2005/06 (W5 D1).
- Four of the five goals conceded by Arsenal this season have come in the opening 20 minutes whilst both of Basel's goals have been scored after the 75th minute.
- Arsenal's two goals against Basel last September were both scored by Theo Walcott from Alexis Sanchez assists.
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Form guide
Basel: WWDWL
Arsenal: DDWLW