Arsenal’s challenge for the Premier League title may be showing some signs of wobbling but there are no such problems in the Champions League. An eighth successive victory means Mikel Arteta’s side have become the first team to end the league phase with a 100% record since it was introduced last season, with only a consolation goal in injury time denying them the distinction of winning all by a two-goal margin.
Whether that can translate into silverware in a competition that Arsenal have infamously never won and in which they have only reached one final remains to be seen. But even with a second-string side that once again showed the strength in depth at Arteta’s disposal, completing the job against the bottom side, Kairat, was never in doubt even when the Kazakh champions equalised after an early goal from Viktor Gyökeres.
The £64m striker endured another frustrating evening as he somehow failed to add to his tally after that despite numerous opportunities. It was a different story for Kai Havertz, who sparkled on his first start for almost a year owing to a series of injuries. He scored the second either side of setting up Gyökeres and Gabriel Martinelli to help establish Arsenal’s supremacy before the break. The Germany forward was withdrawn at half-time with the damage done. Having a player of such quality available again will be crucial as Arsenal’s quest for a quadruple remains alive.
