Xherdan Shaqiri is confident that his former club Basel can cause Arsenal trouble in the Champions League on Tuesday evening and joked Arsene Wenger may even play a weakened team due to having to face Stoke City at the weekend.
Stoke winger Shaqiri started his career at Basel, coming through the youth ranks to graduate to the senior side and turn heads with his performances, ultimately earning a switch to German giants Bayern Munich in 2012.
The 25-year-old, who joined Stoke from Italian giants Inter in 2015, has faith in Basel and believes his former club can go toe to toe with Arsenal.
"I believe in FC Basel and that they can match Arsenal", he told Swiss daily Blick.
"First of all, FCB are strong at home and have beaten English teams such as Manchester United and Chelsea", Shaqiri continued.
relatedNewsStory
"Second, Arsenal have already qualified for the Round of 16 and Basel can hope that Arsene Wenger will play his B-team. After all, he will have to play against Stoke at home on Saturday. [Laughs]."
Arsenal currently sit in second spot in Group A in the Champions League, level on points with leaders Paris Saint-Germain
While Arsenal face Basel at St. Jakob-Park in Switzerland, PSG host Bulgarian side Ludogorets Razgrad at the Parc des Princes.
