Kai Havertz netted on his first start in almost a year as Arsenal wrapped up a perfect league phase, achieving eight victories out of eight in the Champions League with a win against Kairat Almaty.
Arsenal clinched a top-two finish with their 3-1 victory against Inter Milan last week, ensuring they will host the second legs of their knockout matches.
They went ahead on Wednesday within two minutes when Havertz set up Viktor Gyokeres, who struck a low shot into the net.
Kairat, sitting at the bottom of the league phase with just one point, unexpectedly equalized three minutes later when Jorginho converted a penalty after Riccardo Calafiori was deemed to have fouled the midfielder.
Arsenal regained dominance, and Havertz, in his first start for the Gunners since 5 February of the previous year, scored with a strong left-footed shot to give his team the lead.
Gyokeres squandered a few solid chances to increase his goal count, but while trying to connect with a low cross from Havertz into the box, he redirected the ball for Gabriel Martinelli to score from close range, marking Arsenal’s third goal.
Gabriel Jesus believed he scored a fourth late on, but his shot was disallowed for offside before Ricardinho headed in a late goal to reduce the deficit for Kairat.
The victory ensures Arsenal tops the league stage and becomes just the second English team to achieve eight or more straight wins in Champions League history, following Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, which secured 10 consecutive wins from May 2023 to March 2024.
