3 FC Basel stars who would fit into the Arsenal squad

11th April 2015 - Barclays Premier League - Burnley v Arsenal - Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger - Photo: Simon Stacpoole / Offside.

Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal go to Basel on Tuesday night in their final match of the group stages in this season’s Champions League.

The Gunners have already qualified for the last-16, but with top spot yet to be decided, they will go into the game in Switzerland still hoping to clinch top spot in Group A.

However, the odds are stacked against them because of their 2-2 draw at home to Paris Saint-Germain last time out, and Wenger’s men now need to better their result on Tuesday to finish top of the standings.

Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

PSG host Ludogorets, whom Arsenal beat 6-0 and 3-2 earlier in the competition, while the Gunners travel to bottom side FC Basel, who themselves still harbour ambitions of finishing third, and in turn qualifying for the Europa League.

The Swiss side need to better Ludogorets’ result, as the Hungarian side have a better head-to-head record against Basel having drawn 1-1 in Switzerland in their first match of the competition.

Despite losing 2-0 at the Emirates in earlier on this season, Basel have several players good enough to give Arsenal problems on Tuesday, and here are THREE who could fit into the Gunners squad…

Marek Suchy

Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

Marek Suchy is a highly-rated defender in Switzerland, and has been an integral part of the backline since moving there in 2014.

The 28-year-old centre-back initially moved to Basel on loan in 2014, but several impressive performances in the league and the Europa League saw the Swiss outfit make the move permanent that summer.

Since then, Suchy has played 102 times for the club, including in their last three European campaigns, and netted eight goals, the last of which coming last month in their 2-1 win over Lausanne in the Swiss League.

The defender has re-established a regular place in the Czech Republic team since moving to Basel, and is a physically solid centre-back who reads the game well.

He’ll have to be at his best to stop Alexis Sanchez and co on Tuesday.

Luca Zuffi

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRN3mHEpoAQ

Luca Zuffi is another Basel player who has been in impressive form so far this season.

The 26-year-old, who moved to the club back in 2014, has scored three times in all competitions for the Swiss side, including in their 2-1 defeat at home to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League last month.

The Swiss international is known for his excellent passing ability and fine vision, and could cause the Gunners problems on Tuesday night.

Seydou Doumbia

Photo: Simon Stacpoole / Offside.

He may have had a disappointing time of it at Newcastle in the second-half of last season, but Seydou Doumbia has a fine goalscoring record thus far in his career.

Known for his blistering pace, the 28-year-old made his name at CSKA Moscow between 2010 and 2015, where he scored 84 goals in just 129 games for the Russian side.

That earned him a move to AS Roma, but he struggled the nail down a first-team spot with the Italian club, and has since returned to CSKA Moscow on loan, and has also had spells at Newcastle and now Basel.

This season, Doumbia has scored nine goals in 12 Swiss League games, but has yet to get off the mark in the Champions League.

He and the Basel faithful will be hoping that he can get that elusive goal on Tuesday as they look to qualify for the Europa League.

Exit mobile version