Arsenal continued their impressive European campaign with a thrilling 3–2 victory over Kairat Almaty at the Emirates Stadium on the night of Wednesday, 28 January 2026. The win not only secured top spot in their Champions League group, but also stretched their unbeaten run in Europe to a perfect record, having won all eight group games so far in the competition.
From the outset, Mikel Arteta’s side looked determined. They struck early when Viktor Gyökeres nodded home in the 2nd minute, giving Arsenal the perfect start and setting the tone for a dominant first half. That early goal energized the Emirates faithful and forced the visitors to chase the game — a tough ask given Arsenal’s confidence and control.
Arsenal’s attacking momentum continued as Kai Havertz, making his first start in nearly a year following injury setbacks, found the net in the 15th minute. Havertz’s performance was one of the standout aspects of the match — he looked sharp, involved, and hungry to make an impact after a tough road back to fitness.
The Gunners weren’t done. Just before halftime, Gabriel Martinelli added a third with a lovely finish in the 36th minute, and for a long period it appeared that Arsenal would run away with a comfortable victory. The trio of goals gave Arteta’s team a substantial cushion and reflected how well they played in wide areas and through quick combinations in the final third.
However, the second half saw Kairat Almaty show character. They were awarded a penalty early on after a foul in the box, and Jorginho stepped up to coolly convert it past the Arsenal keeper. This cut the deficit and gave the visitors renewed belief, forcing Arsenal to defend more intensely.
With the match deep into stoppage time, Kairat grabbed another goal through a close-range header from Ricardinho in the 94th minute — a reminder that no lead is ever truly safe in modern football. Still, it was too little, too late. Arsenal saw out the closing moments to secure a 3–2 win, topping the group in dominant fashion.
Arteta will be pleased by many aspects of the performance — especially with Havertz’s return to form and the goals from multiple attackers — but there will also be lessons to take from conceding late, particularly as Arsenal aim to go deep in the knockout stages once the draw is made next month.
The result places Arsenal among the eight teams now confirmed for the Champions League Round of 16, alongside heavyweights like Manchester City, Real Madrid and others. They now await their knockout opponent following the draw scheduled for 27 February 2026.
No comments:
Post a Comment