Sep 28, 2016 at 7.45pm UK at ​Emirates Stadium
Arsenal
2-0
Basel
Walcott (7', 26')
FT(HT: 2-0)

Suchy (21'), Elyounoussi (85')

Result: Theo Walcott double earns Arsenal win over Basel

Two first-half goals from Theo Walcott help Arsenal record a comfortable 2-0 victory over Basel in the Champions League.

Arsenal have secured their first win of this season's Champions League as they recorded a 2-0 victory over Basel at the Emirates Stadium.

The Premier League side began the group stages with a 1-1 draw away at Paris Saint-Germain but there was never any doubt that they would follow that result with three points in North London.

A dominant performance from the Gunners began as early as the seventh minute when Walcott netted in his third successive match for the first time since 2013 after he met Sanchez's cross to head home from close range.

Theo Walcott celebrates scoring during the Champions League game between Arsenal and Basel on September 28, 2016© SilverHub

Basel had their moments in the immediate aftermath of the goal but they could not force David Ospina into action, and they were eventually made to pay before the half-hour mark.

Again, Sanchez provided the assist for Walcott to score his second of the night with the pair playing a quick one-two before Walcott fired the ball in off the far post.

It soon became a case of how many goals would the home team score as they peppered the Basel backline but they were met by an inspired 15 minutes from goalkeeper Tomas Vaclik, who made numerous interventions to keep his side in the match.

Theo Walcott scores his second during the Champions League game between Arsenal and Basel on September 28, 2016© SilverHub

Sanchez twice squandered openings inside the penalty area as Vaclik got himself in the way, while Mesut Ozil twice failed to hit the target from promising positions.

Arsenal wasted little time in trying to find a third goal when they returned for the second half but the sole chance of the opening stages fell to Alex Iwobi, who poked the ball wide of the post after a rampaging run towards goal.

Basel had offered very little in the final third but midfielder Birkir Bjarnason twice went close for the visitors, with his first shot being tipped over the crossbar by Ospina.

Arsene Wenger watches on during the Champions League game between Arsenal and Basel on September 28, 2016© SilverHub

The second was a harder chance after the Arsenal stopper had failed to deal with a corner, but the Iceland international could only send a half-volley at the back post over the bar.

The goal sparked an improvement in Arsenal's play in the opposite half and they should have netted a third when Walcott reached the byline and crossed for Sanchez, but his teammate volleyed wide from six yards out.

As the game entered added-on time, Sanchez squandered another chance from inside the penalty area as Vaclik pulled off yet another block to deny the Chilean, but Arsene Wenger will be content with securing three points to match Paris Saint-Germain's victory over Ludogorets Razgrad.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger on February 28, 2016
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City86111981119
2Arsenal86111991019
3Tottenham HotspurSpurs8530134918
4Liverpool85211810817
5Chelsea8512159616
6Everton8431126615
7Manchester UnitedMan Utd8422138514
8Southampton8332107312
9Crystal Palace8323119211
10Watford83231313011
11Bournemouth83231212011
12West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom824298110
13Leicester CityLeicester8224814-68
14Burnley8215612-67
15West Ham UnitedWest Ham8215917-87
16Hull City8215820-127
17Middlesbrough8134711-46
18Stoke CityStoke8134716-96
19Swansea CitySwansea8116815-74
20Sunderland8026615-92