Switzerland U21 international Manuel Akanji is definitely ruled out of FC Basel’s trip to the Emirates Stadium for the Champions League tie with Arsenal on Wednesday, September 28.

The central defender has not been included in the FC Basel roster for the group stage of the Champions League, and it is thought he was omitted because he is still recovering from a anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury he suffered last season.

Wiesendangen-born Akanji arrived the Swiss powerhouse in the summer of 2015 from FC Winterthur.

In the last campaign, he made 12 appearances in total for the first team of FC Basel in the Super League, Swiss Cup and Europa League, and was a non-playing substitute in Champions League games with Lech Poznan.

Manuel Akanji has a contract with FC Basel until June 30, 2018.

Igho Kingsley