Arsenal dominate Europe With flawless Champions League campaign

Arsenal etched their name into the Champions League record books on Wednesday night, becoming the first club to win all eight matches in the competition’s league phase after a hard-fought 3–2 victory over Kazakhstan’s Kairat Almaty.

Already assured of a place in the round of 16, Mikel Arteta’s side also guaranteed home advantage in the second leg of the knockout stages, provided they progress, as they wrapped up top spot in emphatic fashion.

Kairat, competing in the Champions League for the first time, endured a difficult campaign and finished bottom of the expanded 36-team table with just one point from eight games, never truly matching the Premier League leaders despite a spirited showing.

Arteta took advantage of Arsenal’s qualification by making wholesale changes, naming an entirely new starting XI from the side that suffered a rare home defeat to Manchester United at the weekend. The rotation paid off, with the return of Kai Havertz providing a timely boost as the Gunners chase honours on four fronts.

Making his first start in almost a year following a prolonged spell on the sidelines, Havertz made an immediate impact. Just two minutes in, the German midfielder split the defence with a precise pass that allowed Viktor Gyokeres to smash home his 10th goal of the season.

Kairat briefly drew level through Jorginho’s penalty, but Arsenal quickly reasserted control. Havertz restored the lead with a composed finish from the edge of the box — his first goal of the campaign — before playing a key role in the third, supplying the cross that Gabriel Martinelli converted.

Ricardinho pulled one back deep into stoppage time to give the hosts a late consolation, ensuring their maiden Champions League journey ended on a positive note. However, the night ultimately belonged to Arsenal, whose flawless league-phase run underlined their growing stature on Europe’s biggest stage.