FC Basel have an exceptional recent record against English opponents in Europe. Forget the French giants, the Swiss champions are the side to watch.
At last, the Champions League draw and all the stuttering, broken-language small talk and unnecessary pretence that comes with it is over, and gives way to fervent, bubbling excitement.
For Arsenal, well, the group stage appears rather futile. They always make it through. Even last season, when Arsene Wenger almost single-handedly signed his own death warrant with defeats to Dinamo Zagreb, Olympiakos and a 5-1 battering by Bayern (below), they still made it through for the 16th season in a row.
On initial inspection, there’s little reason to suggest this remarkable run will come to an end by December. Yes, PSG, although shorn of their Swedish talisman Zlatan Ibrahimovic, are likely to consign the Gunners to second once again and the invisible barrier of the round of 16. 2010 was the last time Arsenal progressed beyond the second stage, after all.
Yet, FC Basel, Swiss champions seven years in a row, might have something to say about that. Their recent record against English opponents in Europe’s top tier makes for worrying reading. Since 2012, the RotBlau have knocked Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United out in the group stage, defeated Spurs on penalties in the Europa League, did the double over Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea, and downed Liverpool at St Jakob Park (below).
And, despite losing 19-year-old prodigy Breel Embolo, the jewel of the club’s impressive youth academy, Basel still possess a squad brimming with undervalued talent. Young winger Renato Steffen is one of the most exciting talents in Swiss football, Seydou Doumbia an experienced and reliable European goalscorer, and, in Birkir Bjarnasson (below), they have an Icelandic legend in their ranks, scorer of the equaliser against Portugal at Euro 2016.
Arsenal beware; the Swiss champions have turned overthrowing expensively-assembled English opponents into an annual past-time. You could say it’s like clockwork.
Wenger will have to ensure that his side stand up to the test of the English conquerors if they are to make it 17 out of 17 this term.
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