Arsenal Chase Perfect Champions League Campaign Against Eliminated Kairat

Gunners aim for eight straight wins as Kairat play for pride in London

Premier League leaders Arsenal will look to complete a flawless Champions League league phase when they host already-eliminated Kairat Almaty at the Emirates Stadium.

Form & team news

Arsenal come into the final group-stage round eager to bounce back after a dramatic Premier League defeat to Manchester United, where they surrendered a lead and lost late on Sunday. Despite that setback, the Gunners’ Champions League campaign has been nothing short of dominant.

Mikel Arteta’s side have won all seven matches so far, remain unbeaten in the competition this season and, according to Opta’s prediction model, hold a 31% chance of winning the Champions League outright. Arsenal have already all but secured top spot in the group, but motivation remains high — particularly after scoring at least three goals in each of their last five group games and opening the scoring in all seven.

Rotation is expected with qualification assured, yet Arsenal will be keen to restore confidence and momentum on home soil.

Kairat Almaty’s European journey has been a harsh contrast. The Kazakh champions have collected just one point, boast one of the worst defensive records in the competition (19 goals conceded) and are almost certain to finish bottom of the table.

They would need a better result than Villarreal to avoid last place, but pre-match odds of 55/1 for a Kairat win underline the scale of the challenge. History offers little encouragement either — Kairat have never won a European group-stage match (three draws, ten defeats), and no Kazakh club has ever won a Champions League game.

Head-to-head

This will be the first-ever meeting between Arsenal and Kairat.

Arsenal are only the second English club to host a Kazakh opponent in European competition, following Manchester United’s 1-0 win over Astana in 2019.

Key stats & trends

• Arsenal are unbeaten in their last 11 European matches against first-time opponents (10 wins, 1 draw)
  
• The Gunners could become the first team in Champions League history to win eight consecutive matches, all by at least two goals
  
• Kairat have faced more shots on target than any team in the group stage (58)
  
• Kairat have spent 316 minutes trailing in Champions League group games — the third-highest total
  

Players to watch

Bukayo Saka could become the second-youngest Arsenal player to reach 50 European appearances, after Cesc Fàbregas. The winger averages a goal every two Champions League matches, with 12 goals in 24 appearances.

Kairat goalkeeper Temirlan Anarbekov has been one of the few bright spots, conceding just 10 goals from 15.1 expected goals (xG) — the best positive differential in the competition.

Absentees

• Arsenal have no fresh injury concerns after Sunday’s defeat
  

Kairat may be without key forward Dastan Satpaev (four goals, one assist in the Champions League), who remains doubtful