Arsenal 4-0 Kairat: Havertz Dominates Midfield as Academy Stars Shine in Champions League Debut
By SportSphere24 Editorial Team | Jan 29, 2026
LONDON — Arsenal (18 pts) put on a dominant display against Kairat Almaty at the Emirates, securing a comfortable 4-0 victory to confirm their place in the Champions League Round of 16. While two academy graduates made their European bows, it was Kai Havertz who orchestrated the midfield masterclass, delivering a goal and an assist in a performance that signals a new peak in his Arsenal career.
The Scoreboard: Arsenal vs. Kairat Almaty
| Team | 1st Half | 2nd Half | Final |
| Arsenal | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Kairat Almaty | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Game Analysis: Arteta’s Vision & Havertz’s Impact
Mikel Arteta used this final Champions League league-phase fixture to rotate his squad, test new tactics, and give invaluable experience to his rising stars.
1. Kai Havertz: The Midfield Maestro
Havertz was unplayable, dropping deep to dictate play and surging forward to impact the attack.
Goal & Assist: He scored Arsenal's second with a clever flick from a Bukayo Saka cross and then assisted Gabriel Martinelli with a perfectly weighted through ball.
Dominance: His 93% pass accuracy and 10 progressive carries highlighted his influence in every phase of play.
"Kai is growing into this role beautifully," Arteta commented. "He understands the rhythm we want to play with."
2. Academy Graduates Take the Stage
The Emirates roared as two future stars made their Champions League debuts:
Myles Lewis-Skelly: The highly-touted midfielder entered in the 75th minute, showcasing his composure on the big stage.
Ethan Nwaneri: At just 17 years old, Nwaneri became one of Arsenal's youngest-ever Champions League debutants, a testament to his burgeoning talent.
3. Early Goals & Clinical Efficiency
Arsenal started quickly, with Bukayo Saka opening the scoring in the 12th minute after a delightful one-two with Martin Ødegaard. The Gunners controlled possession, rarely allowing Kairat to venture beyond the halfway line, securing their spot in the lucrative knockout stages with ease.
Stat Leaders & Performance Metrics
| Player | Team | Goals | Assists | Key Pass | Rating |
| Kai Havertz | ARS | 1 | 1 | 4 | 9.0 |
| Bukayo Saka | ARS | 1 | 1 | 5 | 8.8 |
| Gabriel Martinelli | ARS | 1 | 0 | 3 | 8.2 |
| Martin Ødegaard | ARS | 0 | 1 | 6 | 8.0 |
| Ben White | ARS | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7.9 |