UEFA Champions League League Stage - 8
Arsenal 3 - 2 FT Kairat Almaty
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
3' V. Gyokeres (K. Havertz)
6' R. Calafiori
Jorginho 7'
15' K. Havertz (B. White)
36' G. Martinelli (V. Gyokeres)
HT
46' ↓ K. Havertz ↑M. Odegaard
46' ↓ R. Calafiori ↑P. Hincapie
↓ Edmilson Santos ↑V. Gromyko 59'
↓ E. Tapalov ↑Ricardinho 59'
Jorginho 69'
↓ L. Mata ↑L. Kurgin 70'
↓ D. Glazer ↑D. Kasabulat 70'
77' ↓ G. Martinelli ↑B. Bailey-Joseph
77' ↓ V. Gyokeres ↑Gabriel Jesus
↓ Jorginho ↑R. Bagdat 79'
88' Gabriel Jesus
89' ↓ C. Norgaard ↑I. Ibrahim
Ricardinho (V. Gromyko) 90'+3
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Arsenal
Goalkeepers
Kepa Arrizabalaga 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
89
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Ben White 
CAPTAIN FANTASTIC
0
Contribution
0
Contribution
8
Rating
Yes
Captain
Cristhian Mosquera 
MAGNET
86
Activity
86
Activity
78
Passes
8
Duels
Riccardo Calafiori 
FRIENDLY FIRE
Pen Given
Mistake
Pen Given
Mistake
2
Fouls
5.9
Rating
Myles Lewis-Skelly 
ARCHITECT
2
Key Passes
2
Key Passes
0
Assists
65%
Pass Acc
Midfielders
Kai Havertz 
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
Christian Nørgaard
MAGNET
87
Activity
87
Activity
77
Passes
10
Duels
Eberechi Eze
ARCHITECT
4
Key Passes
4
Key Passes
0
Assists
49%
Pass Acc
Forwards
Noni Madueke
MAGNET
58
Activity
58
Activity
42
Passes
16
Duels
Viktor Gyökeres
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
1
Assists
8%
Pass Acc
Gabriel Martinelli
ARCHITECT
4
Key Passes
4
Key Passes
0
Assists
22%
Pass Acc
BENCH
Tommy Setford 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Jack Porter
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Piero Hincapié
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
44
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Marli Salmon
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Gabriel Magalhães
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Martin Ødegaard
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
44
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Martín Zubimendi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ife Ibrahim
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Gabriel Jesus
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
12
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Bukayo Saka
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Leandro Trossard
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Brando Bailey-Joseph
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
12
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kairat Almaty
Goalkeepers
Temirlan Anarbekov
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
89
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Aleksandr Shirobokov
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
89
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Aleksandr Martynovich 
PROVOCATEUR
2
Fouls Won
2
Fouls Won
5
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Egor Sorokin
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
89
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Midfielders
Erkin Tapalov
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
59
Total Mins
59
Entry
Dan Glazer
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
70
Total Mins
70
Entry
Adilet Sadybekov
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
89
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Luís Mata
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
70
Total Mins
70
Entry
Forwards
Aleksandr Mrynskiy
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
89
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Edmilson
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
59
Total Mins
59
Entry
Jorginho
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
BENCH
Danila Buch
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Sherkhan Kalmurza
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Lev Kurgin
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
19
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Damir Kasabulat
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
19
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Valeriy Gromyko 
SUPER SUB
1
Assist
1
Assist
30
Minutes
6.7
Rating
Jug Stanojev
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ricardinho 
CLUTCH HERO
90
Goal Time
90
Goal Time
Goal
Impact
6.9
Rating
Ramazan Bagdat
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
10
Total Mins
Started
Entry
League Standings
P: 8 GD: +19
P: 8 GD: +14
P: 8 GD: +12
P: 8 GD: +10
P: 8 GD: +8
P: 8 GD: +7
P: 8 GD: +6
P: 8 GD: +6
P: 8 GD: +9
P: 8 GD: +8
P: 8 GD: +10
P: 8 GD: +10
P: 8 GD: +4
P: 8 GD: +2
P: 8 GD: 0
P: 8 GD: -1
P: 8 GD: +2
P: 8 GD: -4
P: 8 GD: -2
P: 8 GD: -2
P: 8 GD: -6
P: 8 GD: -8
P: 8 GD: -1
P: 8 GD: -2
P: 8 GD: -3
P: 8 GD: -3
P: 8 GD: -9
P: 8 GD: 0
P: 8 GD: -5
P: 8 GD: -6
P: 8 GD: -9
P: 8 GD: -13
P: 8 GD: -11
P: 8 GD: -14
P: 8 GD: -13
League Standings
P: 8 GD: +19
P: 8 GD: +14
P: 8 GD: +12
P: 8 GD: +10
P: 8 GD: +8
P: 8 GD: +7
P: 8 GD: +6
P: 8 GD: +6
P: 8 GD: +9
P: 8 GD: +8
P: 8 GD: +10
P: 8 GD: +10
P: 8 GD: +4
P: 8 GD: +2
P: 8 GD: 0
P: 8 GD: -1
P: 8 GD: +2
P: 8 GD: -4
P: 8 GD: -2
P: 8 GD: -2
P: 8 GD: -6
P: 8 GD: -8
P: 8 GD: -1
P: 8 GD: -2
P: 8 GD: -3
P: 8 GD: -3
P: 8 GD: -9
P: 8 GD: 0
P: 8 GD: -5
P: 8 GD: -6
P: 8 GD: -9
P: 8 GD: -13
P: 8 GD: -11
P: 8 GD: -14
P: 8 GD: -13
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Gunners Survive Late Almaty Surge to Maintain Perfect Record
Must-Watch Futmetrix Score: 100/100. Arsenal cement their dominance at the top of the standings while Kairat Almaty showed unexpected grit in a five-goal Champions League spectacle.
The Opening Act
The atmosphere at Emirates Stadium crackled with expectation as Arsenal sought to extend their flawless continental run. The home side wasted no time asserting their authority, dictating the early Intensity with slick, vertical passing that immediately pushed the Kazakh visitors onto the back foot. It took only three minutes for the breakthrough to arrive, as Kai Havertz turned provider for V. Gyokeres to slot home from close range. However, the script took an unexpected turn shortly after when the visitors were awarded a penalty against the run of play. Jorginho, stepping up for Kairat Almaty, showed nerves of steel to convert from the spot in the seventh minute. This sudden parity did little to dampen the North London spirits, as the Gunners continued to suffocate their opponents with high-pressing tactics, forcing a desperate defensive shell.
The Pivot
The game's Balance shifted decisively back in favour of the hosts during a clinical twenty-minute spell that showcased their superior technical quality. Ben White provided the ammunition with a pinpoint delivery that allowed Havertz to restore the lead in the 15th minute, capably demonstrating why the German remains a focal point of this attacking system. Arsenal then turned the final third into a shooting gallery, unleashing a barrage of 21 shots throughout the evening to overwhelm the opposition. The pressure told again before the break when G. Martinelli converted a pass from Gyokeres to make it 3-1. Dominating possession with a commanding 68%, Mikel Arteta’s men looked to have extinguished any hope of a comeback. The midfield trio, anchored by the disciplined Christian Nørgaard, controlled the tempo and denied Almaty any meaningful exit routes.
Resolution
The closing stages introduced a layer of late drama that few anticipated given the Stakes of the lopsided encounter. Gabriel Jesus thought he had added a fourth in the 88th minute, but a VAR review for offside denied the Brazilian his moment of celebration. This reprieve galvanised the visitors, who had been pinned back for the majority of the half. Deep into stoppage time, Ricardinho capitalised on a rare lapse in concentration, converting a V. Gromyko assist to reduce the deficit to 3-2. While the final whistle brought relief to the home fans, the result ensures Arsenal remain at the summit of the table with a perfect record. For Almaty, despite the defeat, the late goal provided a glimmer of pride in an otherwise difficult campaign that sees them struggling at the bottom of the league phase standings.
Key Questions
What made Kai Havertz the Man of the Match?
Havertz registered a goal and an assist, creating four key passes in a creative masterclass that dictated the attacking tempo throughout the match.
What caused the 5-goal thriller?
An early goal flurry involving Gyokeres and Jorginho, combined with a late Ricardinho strike, turned a dominant Arsenal performance into a close result.
What does this mean for Arsenal's season?
Arsenal remain perfect at the top of the table with eight wins from eight, reinforcing their position as primary favourites for the Champions League title.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
Goliath Hosts David in North London Finale
Worth Watching Futmetrix Score: 66/100. Arsenal aim to perfect their league stage record while Kairat Almaty fights a desperate battle to avoid a winless exit from the competition.
The Setup
Arsenal sit comfortably at the summit of the UEFA Champions League table with a flawless Form of seven wins from seven matches. Mikel Arteta’s side has turned the Emirates Stadium into a fortress, and their defensive Balance has been peerless, conceding only two goals in the entire campaign. In stark contrast, Kairat Almaty finds themselves anchored to 36th place. The Stakes couldn't be clearer for the visitors; they are on the brink of total elimination and must find a way to breach a defense that has looked impenetrable to much stronger European giants.
Key Battle
The night likely hinges on the duel between Arsenal's clinical Noni Madueke and Kairat’s overworked goalkeeper Temirlan Anarbekov. While Madueke has been lethal in his recent outings, Anarbekov has been a lone bright spot for the Kazakh side, racking up 27 saves in this tournament to prevent even heavier defeats for his back line.
Our Prediction
Arsenal's overwhelming Stars and superior possession will pin Kairat in their own third from the opening whistle. While the visitors will rely on a low block, the pace of Gabriel Martinelli and the physical presence of Viktor Gyökeres will eventually break the resistance. Expect a professional performance and a 4-0 victory that secures Arsenal's status as the top seed for the knockout rounds.