FC Basel vs. Arsenal: Team News, Preview, Live Stream, TV Info for UCL Match

Arsenal travel to FC Basel on Tuesday needing to better Paris Saint-Germain's result at home to Ludogorets Razgrad if they're to top Group A in the UEFA Champions League.

The Gunners are through to the next round and are level with PSG on 11 points, but the Ligue 1 side's slightly superior head-to-head record—by virtue of their scoring two away goals to Arsenal's one in their two draws—puts them in pole position for qualifying in first place.

While it's highly likely that the Parisiens will not slip up against Ludogorets, Arsenal need to make sure they win just in case of an upset, not to mention to help build some winning momentum after a difficult November.

As for Basel, a positive result could see them finish third and enter the UEFA Europa League rather than exit Europe entirely.

Date: Tuesday, December 6

Time: 7:45 p.m. GMT/2:45 p.m. ET

TV: BT Sport 2 (UK), BT Sport Showcase (UK), ESPN3 USA

Live Stream: BT Sport Player (UK), WatchESPN (USA), Fox Soccer 2 GO USA

Team News

According to Transfermarkt, Basel are without Manuel Akanji, Kevin Bua, Jean-Paul Boetius and Dereck Kutesa due to injury.

Per Amy Lawrence of the Guardian, Santi Cazorla is due to have surgery on his plantaris tendon and will be out for an unknown length of time, while Hector Bellerin is targeting a Boxing Day return from an ankle injury, according to the Mirror's Matt Lawless.

Mohamed Elneny was able to make the bench against West Ham United on Saturday after a stomach bug. Per James Olley of the London Evening Standard, Olivier Giroud is in line to return against Basel.

Per the Mirror's Jake Polden, Gabriel Paulista was to be assessed on Sunday after knocks to his knee and head in the game against the Hammers.

Predicted Basel Lineup: Tomas Vaclik; Michael Lang, Marek Suchy, Eder Balanta, Adama Traore; Birkir Bjarnason, Matias Delgado, Taulant Xhaka, Luca Zuffi, Mohamed Elyounoussi; Seydou Doumbia

Predicted Arsenal Lineup: David Ospina; Carl Jenkinson, Shkodran Mustafi, Laurent Koscielny, Kieran Gibbs; Mohamed Elneny, Aaron Ramsey, Alex Iwobi, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Theo Walcott, Olivier Giroud

Preview

After three draws and an exit from the EFL Cup at the hands of Southampton, the Gunners bounced back with a scintillating display at West Ham on Saturday, winning 5-1.

Alexis Sanchez grabbed a hat-trick and Mesut Ozil also got on the scoresheet, with Goal's Chris Wheatley revealing the extent of the pair's outstanding form:

However, it would be something of a surprise if either were to start against the Swiss side.

Qualification is secured, and with the busy Christmas period fast approaching—including tricky fixtures against Stoke City, Everton and Manchester City in their next three Premier League games—it's likely manager Arsene Wenger will give some of his top stars a rest.

In their place, it could fall to Giroud to fire them to victory in Switzerland.

Jean Catuffe/Getty Images

As OptaJoe revealed, the Frenchman—who has notched five goals and an assist in his last six games—has often been utilised from the bench this season to great effect:

Match of the Day host Gary Lineker noted the difficulty his use as an impact substitute could bring:

However, Giroud may have the opportunity to showcase his talents from the start on Tuesday. And if he does, he'll feel he has a point to prove, which bodes well for the Gunners' chances.

So, too, might a number of other Arsenal players if Wenger makes changes—he named a heavily rotated side against Southampton in the League Cup, and his squad players failed to impress, per Jack Pitt-Brooke of The Independent:

They'll want to prove their worth to the team, and while Arsenal will be away from home, there won't be as much pressure on them. And Basel aren't quite as tricky a prospect as the Saints.

The Gunners should be wary of Seydou Doumbia and Matias Delgado—the pair have nine goals apiece this season, and the latter also has seven assists—but even a rotated Arsenal side should have ambitions of picking up three points here.