Arsene Wenger covets top spot ahead of tricky Basle clash

Posted Wednesday, September 28, 2016 by PA

Arsene Wenger is aiming to take another step towards guiding Arsenal to the top of their Champions League group when they welcome Basle to the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night.

The Gunners have made it through the group stage for the past 16 years but they have failed to get beyond the round of 16 in the previous six attempts.

One of the problems has been their inability to finish in top spot in their group, leaving them open to face some of Europe's biggest names.

Barcelona eased past Wenger's side last year but, after fighting to a draw at Paris St Germain in their opening game of Group A, the Frenchman is hoping that can lead to advancing as group winners and avoiding the rest of Europe's elite.

"It's our target but the truth is on the pitch," he said.

"We had a good game on Saturday but let's show that we can go from good game to good game and put the effort in, in every single game.

"That's what it is about, as you said in recent years we came always out of the group stage.

"Last year, let's say it was difficulties because we made it difficult for ourselves and we have learned as well that in the group stage it's not only important to qualify but, if possibly, qualify as top of the group.

"It gives you many more chances after to go through."

While PSG will be considered to be the main rivals to Wenger's ambitions of winning the group the 66-year-old, who celebrates 20 years in charge at Arsenal on October 1, acknowledges that Wednesday night's opposition can cause an upset.

"They are a team who are used to playing in the Champions League," he said of Basle.

"It's not a newcomer or a beginner in the Champions League, they have huge experience in the competition.

"This experience goes through the generations and this is why they're not intimidated. I don't expect them to be intimidated at all. On the other hand, they have nothing to lose. That's always dangerous."

Summer signing Granit Xhaka, a former Basle player, could make just his third Arsenal start as he is likely to be drafted in for the injured Francis Coquelin.

Basle coach Urs Fischer will take heart from his club's recent run against English sides , but insists those results count for nothing against the Gunners.

The Swiss Super League champions have lost just one of their past four games in England, having drawn at Manchester United in 2012 before winning at Tottenham and Chelsea.

"We will see what is going to happen," Fischer said.

"In the end it is important for us to look at us at not what other people are saying or writing. We have to look at ourselves but the past is a positive thing for us.

"We have to show confidence and play confidence so the results are important but the past is the past and the present is all that matters. The present is tomorrow. I think we have to play a very good game to be able to get something tomorrow."

Arsenal go into the game on the back of three straight wins, with the 3-0 victory over Chelsea on Saturday putting down a marker for the rest of the campaign.

"They are in such great shape, I just hope they won't be that great tomorrow," Fischer added.

"If you look at their games, Watford they won 3-1 and then Forest 4-0, they know where the goal stands, that is not a one-off and they are in good form.

"The game in Paris (a 1-1 draw against Paris St Germain), when I watched the highlights I got the impression they were very lucky to draw 1-1 but when you watch the entire 90 minutes they dominated the whole game away in Paris against a great team.

"They had everything in control so therefore I think we have a very difficult situation but one that can be solved, we have to show a top performance and take the right decisions at the decisive moments."