Arsenal vs Basel team news: Granit Xhaka and David Ospina start as Arsene Wenger refuses to ring the changes

Arsenal make just two changes with Ospina returning in goal and Granit Xhaka faces his older brother Taulant

Granit Xhaka will start for Arsenal against Basel (Getty)

Arsenal make two changes to the side that dispatched Chelsea at the weekend as David Ospina returns in goal for Champions league duty, along with midfielder Granit Xhaka as the Swiss international faces his former club Basel.

Ospina shone in an impressive but rare outing as Arsenal secured a 1-1 draw at Paris Saint-Germain in their Champions League opener, and he continues in Europe behind an unchanged defence.

24-year-old Xhaka comes into the side in place of Francis Coquelin, with the French midfielder facing three weeks on the sidelines after suffering a knee injury during the first half of Saturday’s 3-0 win over Chelsea that lifted the Gunners into the top four for the first time this season.

Alexis Sanchez continues in attack, meaning Lucas Perez will have to wait for an opportunity from the substitutes’ bench, where he is joined by another former Basel player in Mohamed Elneny. Gabriel Paulista also returns to the line-up, having missed out on a place at the weekend to Rob Holding who drops out of the matchday squad, while Jeff Reiner-Adelaide comes in for the suspended Olivier Giroud – the France international sent-off in injury time in Paris.

Basel meanwhile will hope to significantly improve their Champions League fortunes after opening their account with a 1-1 draw with Bulgarian champions Ludogorets – who Arsenal play in a double-header next up in the Champions League – and they have recalled former CSKA Moscow striker Seydou Doumbia to lead their attack.

Granit Xhaka’s older brother, Taulant, starts at the heart of the defender in what appears to be a 5-3-2, with captain Marek Suchy alongside Xhaka.

Teams

Arsenal: Ospina; Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal; Cazorla, Xhaka; Walcott, Özil, Iwobi; Sanchez.

Subs: Cech, Gibbs, Gabriel, Elneny, Reine-Adelaide, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Lucas.

Basel: Vaclik; Lang, Suchy, Xhaka, Balanta, Traore; Bjarnason, Zuffi, Fransson; Doumbia, Steffen.

Subs: Vailati, Gaber, Sporar, Delgado, Elyounoussi, Hoegh, Calla.