Arsenal Aim For Champions League History Against Kairat

The Emirates Stadium is set for a night of European football as Arsenal prepare to close out their UEFA Champions League league phase campaign by welcoming Kazakhstan’s Kairat Almaty to North London on Wednesday, January 28, 2026. With kick-off slated for 8 p.m. UK time, the Gunners are already assured of a top-two finish and, remarkably, could make history by becoming the first club to win every match in the new-format league phase. For Kairat, meanwhile, the fixture serves as both a challenging finale and a rare opportunity to test themselves against one of the continent’s in-form sides.

Arsenal’s Champions League run has been nothing short of dominant. Seven wins from seven, each by a margin of two goals or more, have seen Mikel Arteta’s men storm through a group featuring European heavyweights like Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid, and Inter Milan. Their most recent continental outing—a 3-1 triumph at the San Siro over Internazionale—sealed top spot and gave Arteta the luxury to rotate his squad for this final match.

But it’s not all smooth sailing in North London. The Gunners are coming off a bruising 3-2 defeat to Manchester United in the Premier League, a result that snapped their unbeaten home record and trimmed their domestic lead to just four points. The Emirates crowd voiced their frustration, but context is everything: Arsenal remain top of the Premier League, are through in the Carabao Cup and FA Cup, and have made history in Europe. As pointed out by pundits on ESPN, “Questions about mentality will always exist until Arsenal win a major trophy, but the style Arteta has built—defence-first, set-piece dominance, and spreading the goals throughout the squad—has resulted in one of the club’s best ever seasons.”

That said, Arsenal’s attack has come under scrutiny. The numbers are stark: Viktor Gyökeres and Leandro Trossard, both with five league goals, are joint top-scorers, but neither has found the net from open play in the last 11 Premier League matches. Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli haven’t scored in their last 13 appearances, and Noni Madueke has yet to register a league goal contribution. Still, the Gunners have fared better in cup competitions, and Wednesday’s fixture offers a chance for the forwards to rediscover their touch.

Team selection will be shaped by a packed fixture list and a growing injury and suspension list. Declan Rice and Mikel Merino are suspended after yellow cards last week. Jurrien Timber and William Saliba are out with minor injuries, while Kai Havertz and Riccardo Calafiori are nearing returns but unlikely to start. Max Dowman remains sidelined with an ankle injury. As a result, Arteta is expected to field a much-changed side, with opportunities for squad players to impress and regulars to rest ahead of upcoming clashes with Leeds United and Chelsea.

The anticipated Arsenal lineup features Kepa Arrizabalaga in goal, with Ben White, Cristhian Mosquera, Piero Hincapié, and Myles Lewis-Skelly across the back. In midfield, Martin Ødegaard, Christian Nørgaard, and Eberechi Eze are set to anchor the side, while the front three could see Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli flanking Gyökeres. There’s also the possibility of seeing some bench cameos from returning players, but Arteta will be cautious not to risk further injuries.

Speaking after the Manchester United defeat, Arteta shared his mindset with the media: “The reaction has been excellent. We took a moment to bring the temperature down, to pause, to reflect and ask two questions. One is how do we feel, and how do I feel myself, and then how we want to live the next four months. It was so encouraging and beautiful, because what came out of there is very simple. We have earned the right to be in a great position in four competitions, and in the next four months we’re going to live and play with enjoyment, with a lot of courage and with the conviction that we’re going to win it. This is going to be the mindset and where we’re going to put the energy.”

For Kairat Almaty, the Champions League journey has been a baptism of fire. The Kazakhstani champions sit bottom of the group with a solitary point from seven games, their elimination already confirmed. Their domestic campaign ended back in October, and European fixtures have offered little respite. The team has conceded 19 goals and trailed in matches longer than any side except Ajax and Villarreal in this year’s competition. Still, there have been flashes of resilience—most notably a spirited 1-1 draw at home to Inter Milan, where they held the Italians until the 66th minute.

Kairat’s squad is stretched thin, with Azamat Tuyakbayev, Olzhas Baybek, and Dastan Satpaev all absent through injury or doubt. Winter signings Lucas Africo, Jaako Oksanen, and Sebastian Zeballos are ineligible for the Champions League. Head coach Rafael Urazbakhtin is expected to stick with a familiar 4-2-3-1 formation, featuring Anarbekov in goal, a backline of Tapalov, Martynovich, Sorokin, and Mata, midfielders Sadybekov and Glazer, and an attacking trio of Mrynskiy, Jorginho, Gromyko supporting Edmilson up front.

Despite their struggles, Kairat approach the match with a nothing-to-lose mentality. As one preview noted, “This will be their last UCL game this season, an opportunity to perform with the world’s eyes on them.” Their defensive heroics against Celtic in qualifying are a distant memory, but the chance to take a point off Arsenal at the Emirates would be a fitting send-off.

This fixture marks only the second time an English club has hosted a Kazakhstani side in European competition—a testament to the global reach of the Champions League. Statistically, Arsenal are unbeaten in their last 11 European matches against first-time opponents, winning 10 of those. The Gunners have not trailed at any point in this season’s Champions League, underscoring their continental dominance.

Predictions heavily favor Arsenal, with pundits suggesting a comfortable victory—even tipping a 5-0 scoreline. Noni Madueke, who has netted three goals in three European outings, is tipped as a player to watch, especially as he seeks to translate his cup form into league success. “Madueke to score at 6/5 also appeals, given he’s netted three in three in Europe,” noted one analyst.

Fans can catch the action live on TNT Sports in the UK, Discovery+ streaming, Paramount+ in the US, SonyLIV in India, and Stan Sport in Australia. Swiss referee Urs Schnyder will oversee proceedings, with Fedayi San on VAR duties.

While the stakes are lower with qualification already secured, the match offers Arsenal a golden opportunity to make history and restore confidence after their domestic setback. For Kairat, it’s a final chance to make a mark on Europe’s grandest stage. Whatever unfolds, the Emirates is set for a night where records could tumble and new stories will be written.