Arsenal finish UEFA Champions League first phase on top
The Gunners secured a 3-2 victory over Kairat Almaty on the final matchday
Kai Havertz scores in his return for Arsenal
Kai Havertz impressed on his first Arsenal start for almost a year as the Gunners defeated Kairat Almaty 3-2 to secure first place in the Champions League table.
Arsenal made it a perfect eight wins from eight in the league stage on Wednesday with a victory that was more comfortable than the final scoreline suggests.
All the hosts' goals at the Emirates Stadium were scored inside the first 36 minutes, with Viktor Gyokeres, Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli on target.
With progression already secured, Arteta made 11 changes from the dramatic Premier League defeat to Manchester United last time out, including giving Havertz a first start since February 2025 after his injury woe.
The Germany international made an instant impact as he set up Gyokeres with a fine throughball in the second minute, although Kairat scored a shock equaliser five minutes later when Jorginho sent Kepa Arrizabalaga the wrong way with a penalty he had won himself after being tugged back by Riccardo Calafiori.
Havertz restored Arsenal's lead after 15 minutes, cutting inside from the right to score with his left foot after being set up by Ben White, who was wearing the captain's armband.
Martinelli then tapped in from close range after an accurate cross from Havertz had been helped towards goal by Gyokeres, and Arsenal continued to attack relentlessly for the rest of the first half.
The game settled after the break, with Havertz and Calafiori having been withdrawn at half-time. Gabriel Jesus had a late goal ruled out for offside but it was a Brazilian substitute for Kairat, Ricardinho, who had the last word, as he headed in Valeri Gromyko's cross four minutes into added time.
Data Debrief: Havertz & Martinelli Impress For Arsenal
Kairat – who finish bottom of the standings – scored with their only two shots on target in the match, while Arsenal should have ended the game with far more than three goals after producing an electric first-half showing.
The Gunners raced out of the blocks and Gyokeres' goal after one minute and 42 seconds was Arsenal's earliest UCL strike since Yaya Sanogo netted against Borussia Dortmund in 2014, after one minute and 12 seconds.
Arsenal went on to rack up an expected goals (xG) total of 3.35 in the first half, the highest figure any side has managed in the opening 45 minutes of a UCL game this season, and Arteta will wonder how they did not end up with a more handsome victory after managing 25 shots, though they can still celebrate being the first-ever team to record a perfect league-stage record in this competition.
Martinelli, meanwhile, now has six UCL goals this season – only club great Thierry Henry (seven goals in 2001-02 and 2002-03) has scored more times for the Gunners in a single campaign.
But Havertz was the standout performer despite only playing half of the match. Since making his Arsenal debut in August 2023, he has both scored and assisted in eight different matches across all competitions, with only Bukayo Saka doing so more often for the club during this time (nine games).
