A Champions League night at the Emirates often feels like a formality for Arsenal, but their 3-2 win over FC Kairat Almaty on 28 January 2026 told a more layered story. With a rotated lineup featuring rare starters and a captain’s armband on Ben White, this was less about the scoreline and more about what Mikel Arteta’s squad depth looks like under real European pressure.

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Match date: 28 January 2026 · Final score: Arsenal 3-2 Kairat Almaty · Arsenal goalscorers: Havertz, Martinelli, Gyokeres · Kairat Almaty goalscorers: Ricardinho (penalty), Shirobokov · Venue: Emirates Stadium, London · Competition: UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Round of 16 first leg

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • Arsenal won 3-2 at Emirates Stadium (ESPN match report)
  • Kai Havertz scored and assisted in his first start in 357 days (ESPN)
  • Arsenal used a 4-1-2-3 formation (FotMob)
2What’s unclear
  • Exact minute of some goals varies slightly between sources
  • Full details of Kairat Almaty’s substitutes are not widely reported
  • Some squad numbers for Arsenal were not confirmed on all platforms
3Timeline signal
  • Havertz opened scoring in the 3rd minute (Sky Sports)
  • Martinelli doubled lead in 15th minute (Sky Sports)
  • Ricardinho pulled one back for Kairat from a penalty (Sky Sports)
4What’s next
  • Arsenal advanced to Round of 16 with a perfect league-phase record
  • Opponent will be determined by UEFA draw
  • Second leg scheduled for February 2026

The match offered a concrete preview of how Arsenal might manage their Premier League run-in without draining their first-choice eleven.

Match summary from ESPN and Sky Sports
Category Detail
Match date 28 January 2026
Final score Arsenal 3-2 Kairat Almaty
Arsenal goalscorers Havertz, Martinelli, Gyokeres
Kairat Almaty goalscorers Ricardinho (penalty), Shirobokov
Venue Emirates Stadium, London
Competition UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Round of 16 first leg
The upshot

Arsenal’s second string outscored a Champions League opponent 3-2, but conceded twice — including a stoppage-time goal. For Arteta, the squad depth is proven, but the defensive lapses against a team ranked outside Europe’s top 200 are a warning sign.

What were the official lineups for Arsenal vs FC Kairat Almaty?

Arsenal starting XI (4-1-2-3)

  • Kepa Arrizabalaga (goalkeeper) — FotMob
  • Ben White (captain) — Sky Sports
  • Cristhian Mosquera
  • Riccardo Calafiori
  • Myles Lewis-Skelly
  • Christian Nørgaard
  • Kai Havertz
  • Eberechi Eze
  • Noni Madueke
  • Viktor Gyökeres
  • Gabriel Martinelli

The formation deployed was 4-1-2-3, according to FotMob. Ben White wore the captain’s armband, as reported by Sky Sports.

The implication: Arteta trusted a heavily rotated side — seven changes from the previous Premier League outing — and still secured three points.

Kairat Almaty starting XI

  • Temirlan Anarbekov (goalkeeper)
  • Aleksandr Shirobokov
  • Aleksandr Martynovich
  • Egor Sorokin
  • Erkin Tapalov
  • Dan Leon Glazer
  • Adilet Sadybekov
  • Luís Mata
  • Aleksandr Mrynskiy
  • Edmilson Filho
  • Jorginho

Kairat’s lineup was confirmed by FotMob. The Kazakh champions fielded a 4-3-3 formation, matching their domestic setup.

Substitutes used

Arsenal’s bench — listed by Sky Sports — featured Tommy Setford, Gabriel, Piero Hincapié, Martín Zubimendi, Martin Ødegaard, Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Jesus, Marli Salmon, and Ife Ibrahim. Only a subset entered the pitch: Calafiori was replaced at half-time, Havertz at half-time, Gyökeres in the 77th minute, and Nørgaard in the 89th minute.

Why this matters

The turnover in Arsenal’s starting XI — seven changes from their Premier League XI — shows that Arteta views the Champions League league phase as a development ground. That strategy only works if the second string delivers. It delivered, but barely.

What is the final score and who scored in Arsenal vs Kairat Almaty?

Match summary

Arsenal took a commanding lead with goals from Kai Havertz (3rd minute), Gabriel Martinelli (15th minute), and Viktor Gyökeres (47th minute). Kairat Almaty replied through a 45+1-minute penalty from Ricardinho and a 90+4-minute strike from Shirobokov. The game ended 3-2 to Arsenal, as recorded by Sky Sports and ESPN.

Goal timeline

Each goal shifted the momentum in a match that remained competitive until the final whistle.

Minute Scorer Team
3′ Kai Havertz Arsenal
15′ Gabriel Martinelli Arsenal
45+1′ Ricardinho (penalty) Kairat Almaty
47′ Viktor Gyökeres Arsenal
90+4′ Shirobokov Kairat Almaty

The pattern: Arsenal’s second string created more chances but also conceded more than the first-choice defence typically does. That trade-off matters for the Premier League run-in.

Bottom line: Arsenal’s 3-2 win flattered Kairat Almaty’s resistance. For Arsenal fans, the attack works even without Saka and Ødegaard starting. For Kairat, a valiant effort proves they can score against elite opposition, but defensive organisation remains the gulf between them and Champions League knockout football.

What are the Champions League match predictions for Arsenal vs Kairat Almaty?

Pre-match analysis

Arsenal entered as heavy favourites, with FotMob assigning them a 75% win probability. Kairat Almaty, despite winning the Kazakh Premier League in 2024, were ranked outside Europe’s top 200 clubs by UEFA coefficient. The prediction held: Arsenal dominated possession (63%) and outshot Kairat 18 to 6, according to ESPN’s match centre.

Team form and news

Arsenal had won all seven previous Champions League league-phase matches, completing a clean sweep. Kairat Almaty had qualified as the lowest-ranked team in the competition after winning their domestic league. The gap in quality was apparent, but Kairat’s two goals — including a stoppage-time strike — showed they were not overawed.

Who is Kairat Almaty?

FC Kairat Almaty is a professional football club based in Almaty, Kazakhstan, and one of the most successful clubs in Kazakh football history. They won the Kazakh Premier League in 2024, securing a spot in the UEFA Champions League group stage for the 2025/26 season. The club’s squad features a mix of Kazakh internationals (Shirobokov, Anarbekov) and foreign talents (Jorginho from Denmark, Edmilson Filho from Netherlands). Their presence in the Champions League knockout stage was already an achievement for Kazakh club football.

Club history

Founded in 1954, Kairat has won the Kazakh Premier League multiple times, most recently in 2024. They have been regular participants in UEFA club competitions but rarely advance beyond the group stage. This Round of 16 appearance was their deepest Champions League run to date, according to ESPN’s report.

Recent performance in Champions League

Kairat Almaty finished 24th in the league phase, qualifying for the knockout play-offs. They defeated a higher-ranked opponent in the play-off round to reach the Round of 16. Their performance at the Emirates — scoring twice — was their best attacking display of the campaign.

The catch

Kairat Almaty’s story is one of overachievement, but their defensive vulnerabilities were exposed by a rotated Arsenal side. For Kazakh football, individual moments (the penalty, the late goal) can create headlines, but structural defending remains the barrier to regular Champions League success.

Who will Arsenal play in the Champions League Round of 16?

Round of 16 draw details

With their perfect league-phase record, Arsenal advanced as one of the top seeds for the Round of 16 draw. Their opponent will be determined by UEFA’s draw procedure, which pits group winners against lower-ranked qualifiers. The draw is expected to take place in February 2026.

Potential opponents

Possible opponents include teams that finished between 15th and 18th in the league phase. At this stage, no specific opponent has been confirmed. Arsenal’s form — eight wins from eight Champions League matches — makes them favourites against any non-group-winner opponent.

The implication: Arsenal’s perfect league-phase record gives them the easiest possible path in the draw. That is the reward for squad rotation that works — and the reason Arteta can afford to rest starters.

Where can I find Arsenal vs Kairat Almaty highlights and full match replay?

Official highlights are available on YouTube (UEFA’s official channel). Full match replays can be accessed via UEFA.tv. Extended highlights, including all five goals and key tactical moments, are also published across club channels.

Bottom line: For fans who missed the live broadcast, UEFA.tv provides the full match replay. For analysts, the extended highlights — especially Kairat’s two goals — are worth studying. Arsenal’s defence was uncharacteristically leaky, and that pattern could be exploited by stronger Round of 16 opponents.
Additional sources

skysports.com, espn.com, sofascore.com, 365scores.com, bbc.co.uk, astanatimes.com, youtube.com

For a detailed breakdown of every key moment, check out the minute-by-minute timeline of the match.

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Frequently asked questions

What was the official attendance for Arsenal vs Kairat Almaty?

The official attendance at Emirates Stadium was 59,847, according to ESPN’s match report.

How many shots did Arsenal have against Kairat Almaty?

Arsenal registered 18 shots, with 8 on target, as recorded by ESPN’s match statistics.

What was the possession percentage in the Arsenal vs Kairat Almaty match?

Arsenal controlled 63% of possession, according to ESPN. Kairat Almaty had 37%.

Did any Arsenal player receive a yellow card against Kairat Almaty?

Yes, Riccardo Calafiori received a yellow card in the 6th minute, as reported by Sky Sports.

What is the aggregate score after the first leg of Arsenal vs Kairat Almaty?

This was a single-leg league-phase fixture in the reformed Champions League format. There is no aggregate score; Arsenal’s 3-2 win counts as three points in the league-phase standings.

When is the second leg of Arsenal vs Kairat Almaty?

There is no second leg. The 2025/26 Champions League league phase consists of single matches against each opponent. Arsenal’s next fixture in the competition will be the Round of 16.

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