Arsenal v Basel: In-form Gunners must beware happy travelling visitors

Arsenal’s stunning 3-0 win over Chelsea continued their impressive form of late, and though Arsene Wenger’s charges should maintain that tonight against Basel, the Londoners would be wise to hand their opponents the highest respect.

Arsenal head into the game as 4/11 favourites, with Basel 8/1 and a draw 17/4.

But the Swiss side have become one of the biggest Champions League underdogs of the 21^st century, and are impressively unbeaten in each of their last five visits to England.

That includes draws at Liverpool and Manchester United, in addition to a fine 2-1 win at Chelsea three years ago.

Throw in a perfect start to their domestic campaign – nine wins from nine – and there’s plenty to suggest Basel could humble another Premier League team on home soil.

But if Arsenal produce anything like the first-half demolition against Chelsea on Saturday, then they shouldn’t have any problems.

The Gunners have now won five and drawn two of their last seven matches following their opening day 4-3 loss to Liverpool, and that includes a determined 1-1 draw at Paris Saint-Germain.

Arsenal have also fired in 11 goals in just their last three matches, which may tempt more than a few to back the capital club -1 at 17/20.

After bagging the opener at the weekend, Alexis Sanchez is certainly back to his best with four goals and three assists in his last three starts, and the Chilean star is 7/2 to net first tonight and Evens anytime.

And after spending the summer wondering if his Arsenal career was over, Theo Walcott has been in fine form too, with goals in his last two games.

The England international is 11/2 to score first and 17/10 anytime.

Arsenal have also been leading at the interval in their last trio of fixtures, and we’re 21/10 on Arsenal/Arsenal while Evens says the Gunners score in both halves.

Granit Xhaka could also come up against his brother Taulant tonight, should the midfielder get the call up over Mohamed Elneny to replace the injured Francis Coquelin.

Basel may have a history of upsetting their hosts when visiting English shores, but if Arsenal maintain their form from the weekend, Wenger and co shouldn’t have anything to worry about.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing