These two teams managed 1-1 draws on the opening night of this seasons’ Champions League, but Arsenal will undoubtedly be the more pleased having secured a point away at Paris Saint-Germain despite being outplayed for the entire game. If Basel had wanted to ensure at least third place and Europa League qualification in this group then they really should have beaten Ludogorets. Having said that, if they can get a win away in Bulgaria in a few weeks time they should still be OK.
Arsene Wenger’s mantra for the Champions League is to win all of your home games and Gunners fans will no doubt expect them to turn over the Swiss side on Wednesday night. Although Arsenal started the season pretty poorly, they have improved dramatically with four wins out of four in the Premier League, including an impressive victory over fellow top team Chelsea, which puts them in third spot and once again into their usual position of top four contention.
Basel are one of many teams around the continent who guarantee themselves Champions League football every year by dominating their domestic league but are then dominated by the European giants. Even the so-called easier fixtures in European football are a huge step up for the likes of Basel, as proved by their 1-1 draw with Ludogrets, compared to what they face in the Swiss league.
Basel are currently top of the Swiss Super League by a huge margin. They have won nine out of nine and have almost double the amount of points of second place. Although they have scored an impressive 27 goals in their first nine matches, meaning they average three goals per match, they have conceded seven. This may not sound like many but, when you look at their recent form, they have a habit of conceding the odd goal – even against the weaker teams in their own league. Imagine how they will cope against a team with the attacking talents of Arsenal.
With all of the above in mind, I would advise looking at the Arsenal goal market. The Gunners to three or more goals at a profitable 13/10 is certainly worth going for and they should be able to pass that mark with ease.
See more Champions League tips here.