Arsenal capped off a flawless UEFA Champions League league phase with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Kairat Almaty, finishing unbeaten and securing a club-record eighth consecutive European win. The result confirmed the Gunners’ place at the top of the table and underlined their growing confidence on the continental stage.
Fresh from a mixed run of results domestically and in Europe, Mikel Arteta’s side wasted no time asserting themselves. Inside the opening two minutes, Viktor Gyökeres raced onto a perfectly weighted pass from Kai Havertz and calmly guided a right-footed finish beyond goalkeeper Temirlan Anarbekov, setting the tempo early.
Already out of contention, Kairat still found a way back into the contest. Riccardo Calafiori was judged to have pulled Jorginho inside the penalty area, and the Portuguese midfielder stepped up to convert from the spot. The goal brought the scores level and marked just the third time Arsenal had conceded throughout the entire league phase.
The equaliser did little to disrupt Arsenal’s rhythm. Havertz, who had gone nearly a year without a goal, rediscovered his scoring touch by controlling Ben White’s delivery from the right, cutting inside, and firing a crisp effort past Anarbekov to restore the lead. Soon after, Gabriel Martinelli appeared to settle the contest, tapping in from close range following a slick team move. The goal survived a lengthy VAR check, much to the relief of the home crowd.
With a comfortable cushion, Arsenal eased off without losing control. Noni Madueke tested the goalkeeper from range, while Gabriel Jesus thought he had added another late on, only for the flag to rule him offside after a clever pass from Christian Nørgaard.
Kairat showed resilience until the end and managed to pull one back in stoppage time through Ricardinho, who headed home Valery Gromyko’s cross. The late goal proved little more than a consolation, as Arsenal saw out the match to extend their impressive European home record to 17 straight wins in group or league phases.
While Kairat exit the competition with just a single point, their campaign still offered moments of pride. Arsenal, on the other hand, move forward unbeaten and brimming with belief, firmly establishing themselves as one of the sides to watch as the Champions League progresses.
