Arsenal seal perfect Champions League run with win over Kairat

Arsenal etched their name into the history books on Wednesday night after becoming the first team to win all eight matches in the UEFA Champions League league phase.

The Gunners sealed their flawless campaign with a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Kazakhstan’s Kairat Almaty, finishing top of the table in emphatic fashion.

Mikel Arteta’s side had already secured qualification for the Round of 16 before the clash, but they showed no signs of slowing down. Instead, they capped off their group-stage dominance with another spirited performance, underlining their status as serious contenders for European glory this season.

The win not only preserved their perfect record but also earned Arsenal a significant advantage heading into the knockout rounds. By topping the standings, the North London club will enjoy home advantage in the second leg of their ties — a potential edge that could prove crucial as the competition intensifies.

Tournament debutants Kairat finished bottom of the 36-team table with just one point from their eight matches and were never going to be a match for the Premier League leaders.

Arteta could afford the luxury of making 11 changes from the side that lost at the Emirates for the first time this season to Manchester United on Sunday, and the goalscoring return of Kai Havertz could be critical to their chances of silverware in four competitions in the coming months.

The German made his first start for nearly a year after an injury-ravaged 12 months.

Havertz showed his class after just two minutes with a defence-splitting pass for Viktor Gyokeres to blast in his 10th goal of the season.

Jorginho gave the visitors a moment to savour when he equalised from the penalty spot.

Havertz quickly restored Arsenal’s advantage by firing in his first goal of the season from the edge of the area.

The man who scored the winner for Chelsea in the 2021 Champions League final was also involved for Arsenal’s third as Havertz’s cross was converted by Gabriel Martinelli.

Ricardinho pulled a goal back deep into stoppage time as Kairat ended their chastening first experience of Champions League football on a high.

AFP