Von Wartburg played his youth football by Concordia Basel and advanced to their first team in 1972.
Von Wartburg joined Basel for their 1973–74 season under first team manager Helmut Benthaus.
[1] He scored his first goal for his club on 7 August 1974 in the Swiss League Cup against Luzern as Basel won 5–2.
Otto Demarmels scored the opening goal for Basel, Meyer equalised and so the game went into extra time.
Arthur von Wartburg doesn't have a very good memories of the UEFA Cup match against VfB Stuttgart on 13 September 1978.
The Germans played with all their stars, Hansi Müller, Dieter Hoeness, Hermann Ohlicher and the Förster brothers Karlheinz and Bernd.
Then in the 40th minute, the reliable thinker and driver in midfield von Wartburg was given yellow-red for some unknown reason from Referee Brian McGinlay.
Basel ended the league season sixth position after playing a disappointing championship round, losing six of the last seven games.
The team's top scorers were Detlev Lauscher, Joseph Küttel and Erni Maissen each of whom scored 18 league goals during the campaign.
[9] After his time in Basel von Wartburg moved on to FC Grenchen in the Nationalliga B (second tier of Swiss football).
He played four more games for his country including a qualifying match to the 1978 World Cup on 8 June 1977 against Sweden.