FC Basel vs Arsenal: Prediction, team news, line ups, start time, live coverage, head to head and odds - Champions League preview

FootballSportChampions LeaguePremier LeagueArsenalTom Doyle

Arsenal face FC Basel on tonight hoping to pip Champions League rivals Paris Saint-Germain to top spot in Group A in order to maximise the chances of a favourable last-16 draw.

Arsene Wenger's Gunners have already secured safe passage to the knockout stages of the competition, but a 2-2 home draw against PSG on matchday five - coupled with a 1-1 draw in the French capital - leaves the Ligue 1 champions top of the group with a superior head-to-head record.

Arsenal could safely better the result of Unai Emery's French giants in their final group games and still finish second, so Wenger will be hoping that Ludogorets Razgrad can do his side a favour.

Finishing top of group A would be a huge boost for Arsenal considering they have been knocked out at the last-16 stage for the last six seasons in a row, but Basel will be no pushovers despite the Swiss side's disappointing Champions League campaign.

Here's a breakdown of everything you need to know ahead of the final round of Champions League group games...

START TIME AND VENUE

Arsenal face Basel at St. Jakob-Park on Tuesday, December 6. Kick-off is scheduled for 7.45pm.

TV AND LIVE COVERAGE

The match will be televised live on BT Sport 2 and BT Sport Showcase, with coverage starting at 7pm. Alternatively, you can follow all the action with Standard Sport's live blog from 6:30pm onwards. Enter your email address below to receive an alert message when the action begins.

 

Can't see the live blog? Click here to access our desktop site.

TEAM NEWS

The Arsenal squad that travelled to Switzerland in much stronger than expected.

With Francis Coquelin suspended, Olivier Giroud returns; and Carl Jenkinson is expected to operate at right back with Mathieu Debuchy and Hector Bellerin still sidelined.

Santi Cazorla is missing until March due to an Achilles injury, while Chuba Akpom (back), Per Mertesacker and Danny Welbeck (both knee) are all ruled out until next month.

Granit Xhaka is expected to partner Mohamed Elneny in midfield.

Wenger admitted in his pre-match press conference on Monday that he would assess the group standings at half time.

“I keep the group together, whether players and staff…we have a squad that is united,” he said.

“Tomorrow I will make a decision who will start or not. But, overall, the best way when a guy is in good success and confidence, it's more dangerous to stop him than keep him going. What is physical and what is mental in that is always very difficult, and predicting who is tired and not is hard. We are not advanced enough (in our science, I guess, to know that ahead), so I kept them all together.

“PSG are favourites to beat Ludogorets at home and win the group, but we can assess that scoreline at half-time and see where we go.”

POSSIBLE STARTING LINEUPS

FC Basel (4-2-3-1): Vaclik; Lang, Suchy, Balanta, Traore; Xhaka, Zuffi; Elyounoussi, Delgado, Steffen; Doumbia

Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Ospina; Gabriel, Mustafi, Koscielny, Gibbs; Xhaka, Elneny; Ramsey, Ozil, Sanchez; Giroud

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Arsenal's 2-0 home win against Basel back in September was the only previous meeting between the two sides.

PREDICTION

BETTING ODDS (via 888Sport)

Basel to win: 12/5

Draw: 5/2

Arsenal to win: 5/4

Click here to place a bet. Odds correct as of 8am December 6.

LiveblogFC Basel vs Arsenal: How to follow live online coverage tonightFC Basel vs Arsenal live online coverage: Score prediction, team news, line ups, start time, live coverage, head to head and odds - Champions League previewArsenalChampions LeagueFC BaselPremier LeagueFC Basel vs Arsenal: How to follow live online tonight FC Basel vs Arsenal: Prediction, team news, line ups, start time, live coverage, head to head and odds - Champions League previewhttp://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/fc-basel-vs-arsenal-live-latest-score-goal-updates-and-team-news-from-st-jakobpark-champions-league-a3413841.htmlPublishedGalleryMedium width1Tuesday, December 6, 2016 - 17:19OnEnable video endboarddefaultTuesday, December 6, 2016 - 17:15Greater LondonGB