Morning all.
I have copied this from Arsenal’s official website because funny enough, I know absolutely nothing about tonight’s opposition and their journey through this competition.
Kairat Almaty’s squad is a blend of homegrown talent and a host of overseas players. In the Kazak league, the number of foreign players is restricted to 13 per KPL team squad of 25 players, with Kairat holding the maximum 13 international players in the 2025 campaign, including four Brazilians and two Portuguese.
However, it’s a teenage home talent that has made all the headlines in the shape of 17-year-old Dastan Satpayev. The young forward bagged 14 KPL goals in 2025, ranking second in the entire league.
He scored twice to help Kazak side qualify for the UCL main draw and bagged his first Champions League goal in a narrow 3-2 defeat versus Copenhagen in Denmark. Brazilian forward Edmilson has also been a threat in the competition since arriving from Slovenian side Celje in 2025. The striker netted Kairat’s first-ever UCL goal in a 4-1 loss at Sporting CP.
Meanwhile, goalkeeper Temirlan Anarbekov has only conceded 10 goals from 15.1 xG on target in the UEFA Champions League this season. His goals prevented differential is the highest of any goalkeeper in this edition (5.1 – excluding own goals).
Despite the above positives, Kairat Almaty are bottom of the Champions League table with just one point on the board. They have a goal difference tally of -14.
We know Saliba, Timber, Merino and Rice will miss tonight’s game but I hope that doesn’t mean Zubimendi will. We don’t need him and he needs a break. We have Norgaard to protect the defence so surely to goodness he will. Lewis-Skelly and Ben White should in my opinion sit either side of Mosquera and one of Hincapie or Calafiori – fitness depending. Saka doesn’t need to play either, nor Odegaard and Trossard because we have a deep and strong squad ready and able for nights like this.
If the “squad players” aren’t deemed good enough to go and face Kairat in what is pretty much a dead rubber fixture, then why the hell did Arsenal sign them in the first place?
This really is the ideal time to rest those who have played a lot over football, especially over the festive period when the fixture schedule was crazy. It’s also the perfect opportunity to try something different if that is in Arteta’s mind of course.
During his press conference, Arteta spoke about the mood in the camp after Sunday:
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. I’m just hoping that everybody who is related to this club, especially our supporters, jump on that boat because this is the way that we’re going to live the next four months because we deserve to live like this.
Jumping on boats is probably a touchy subject but I get his analogy. Stay with the club, believe in the players and expect to see them get back on track and stay on track. I suspect he’s asking us to believe in him too.
Catch up in the comments.
Good morning Rico, no time to comment, off for a swim. Laters.
Morning Cicero, enjoy.
After the drama and disappointment of Sunday tonight’s game should be relatively stress free.
Often famous last words when it comes to Arsenal,as said if our second string aren’t good enough for tonight what is the point.
We’re in a no win situation because if we do rack up 5 or 6,people will say it’s only Kairat,if we draw or lose all hell will break loose.
I’d just like to see us play with freedom,and I’d love to see some younger players get some minutes.
As would I Limey. Give the youngsters a night to remember and not a “first choice” player in sight..
Morning Gooners and morning Rico, yeah that was an odd presser by Arteta, it was almost as if he was trying to release some pressure from the cooker.
I guess he knows that the team was feeling the tension against Man United and that impacted on our performance.
In a way playing away from the Emirates might help this weekend because of all the negative vibes from the crowd.
Tonight I want to see a clean sheet above all and at leat 4 goals.
Over crowded boats tend to sink when the sea gets rough. 😕
Morning Kev, it was odd but he’s used that rally call before. Just hope it works.
I have a reply to that Cicero but I best keep it to myself. 😜
Afternoon Rico and all.
I don’t get Arteta’s comments; he asked 3 questions and basically said, the reaction has been excellent, and we are going to live and play with enjoyment.
Afternoon Geoff. What else can he say really?
How about the players and myself are very disappointed with their performance and we know we have to lift our game if we want to finish on top. But Live and play with enjoyment sounds more like they are going on a holiday / training camp then trying to win the league ect.
Over crowded boats tend to sink when the sea gets rough.
Not always the case it depends on who goes out to rescue them.
A true and avid Arsenal supporter knows that this team can do it and they will!
Look how far they have come this season. Still in all 4 competitions with a fantastic record winning all of their 7 Champion League games this season. After tonight it be 8 out of 8.
Tonight is now the time for the other players to show what they are made of and also to show their supporters they are 1st Team players despite not always being selected first time.
Enjoy tonight’s game everyone. Its going to be another “crackin” one with plenty of goals.
P.S. Remember everyone, being negative is not the way forward. Sunday has happened, the score won’t change! constantly banging on about it won’t change the outcome. Get POSITIVE and move on.
The players have to be and so must we.
Agree but there’s a fine line between being positive and not seeing reality as it is.
Funny enough,Arteta speaks a lot of gobbledegook but I make him right when he said the players need to remember how good they are.
Go and smash Kairat tonight,then the Yorkies,will really annoy the haters who are desperate for us to fail. I see that clown Paul Scholes said this Arsenal team would be the worst winners of the Premier league.
Despite the Arsenal website saying tonight’s match will be shown live on TNT Sport, it does not appear to be the case, it is not listed on any of their channels.
McGinn out for 6/8 weeks and Tielemans out for 8/10 weeks, is that the end of their challenge?
Limey, I’d imagine that every morning the appalling Paul Scholes gets up, looks in his bathroom mirror and thinks ‘what bollocks can I spout about Arsenal today to rile up all the Gooners’…
Paul Scholes is irrelevant and is only hanging on because of all his Sky Sports chums who give him the gig. There must hundreds of ex-footballers out there who have a balanced and fair opinions, but all Sky Sports do is give ‘jobs for boys’ gigs to ex-United has-beens…
As for overcrowded boats, the Border Force taxi service will save the day…
Agreed Limey. Scholes is a bitter and twisted ex player..
I found it on Discovery Cicero. I thought they were showing all fixtures tonight as it’s the last one.
Yes, just looked on Discovery and all the games are there. Sure I will watch Arsenal but the Multiview will be fun tonight with all at stake for other teams. City have a job to get top 8 and avoid two extra games that would be useful to us. Home v Gala but also need teams above to not win.
Sterling finally left Chelsea after a mutual agreement. BBC article understands Arsenal paid only 20% of his £325,000 a week wages. Wonder who will take a chance on wages acceptable to him? He certainly didn’t impress with us, but has had very few injuries throughout his career.
Would love to see City fall outside the top eight..
Like the team, 11 changes, great to see Califiori and Havertz return and start
Kepa, White, Mosquera, Calafiori, MLS, Eze, Norgaard, Havertz, Madueke, Gyokeres, Martinelli.
Happy with that team.
Subs: Setford, Porter, Gabriel, Salmon, Hincapie, Zubimendi, Ibrahim, Odegaard, Bailey-Joseph, Saka, Trossard, Jesus.
Wouldn’t it be great to get in a position where all the young players get on the pitch.
That would have to be five subs, Rico. Are we allowed that many?
Arsenal Women 5 – 0 up in the Women’s Champions League. 74 mins.
Make that six nil.
I think so Cicero, same as the PL.
Easy night for the ladies, hope it’s the same for the men..
Rumours are Bayern and Inter are interested in Odegaard for a summer move.
2 mins Arsenal 1 – 0 Gyokeres. 🔔
Now a pen for the opposition
1-1 😳
Calafiori gives away a penalty. Jorginho scores. 1 – 1
Great goal Havertz 👍🏻
If Havertz can stay fit I think we have found Odegaard’s replacement.
Don’t get my hopes up 😜
A lot more intention and quicker passing tonight. Forward passing too.
It’ll be interesting to see how Odegaard’s 45 compares to Havertz.
Odegaard has come on for Havertz and has already slowed our attacking game. He males it too intricate.
Can he receive and pass the ball without doing a turn?
Horrible sloppy defending gifts a second goal for Kairat.
We could easily have got into double figures with more composure in the box.
Good first half, changed a bit after Havertz went off. I think he and Gyokeres could work well together.
Night guys.
2 marked differences tonight , the first when Havertz went off and Odegaard came on and the second when Gyokeres went off and Jesus came on .
Enlarge on it tomorrow
I know some might be outraged by this comment some might even consider it sacrilege, but if the price was right I wouldn’t be against selling Odegaard in the summer. Havertz was superb and Eze was very good, but that all changed in the second half.
Ultimately a frustrating game.
Kev, I like Odegaard, but as you pointed out if the offer is too good to turn down, I wouldn’t be against it. I hope we don’t let Trossard go.
Great win by our ladies team, 6-0
Arsenal’s first cup final of the season takes place at The Emirates on Sunday. Arsenal Women play Corinthians in the Fifa Women’s Champions Cup.
Good morning all.
Good morning top of the leagues Lady and Gentlemen
Havertz and Gyokeres’ understanding between them was reminiscent of the Bergkamp/Henry connection. Watch the first 30 mins of the game between them. Kai knew where to find Vic without even looking. And they complimented each other.
Bring back the 4-4-1-1 if Arteta wants to win the league.
I am glad I am not the only one who noticed the shift of play when Havertz and Gyokeres went off to be replaced by Odegaard and Jesus.
Eberechi Eze looked excellent yesterday. With Nørgaard giving him protection, he had the time and space to pull the strings and thread passes through the lines. He needs that kind of cover to really conjure his magic. He created the first goal with a perfectly weighted slice through to Havertz, who then played it on to Gyökeres.
When Havertz played in Odegard position, there was free flowing football and we had many chances created. But in the second half we couldn’t create chances. Odegard holds unto ball, making too many unnecessary touches, turning sideways and passing the ball backwards or only to the right hand side of attack where usually Saka is.
Eze complimented HAvertz because he was safe in the knowledge that Norgaard was protecting his back. Norgaard looked tidy and its a pity he isnt trusted more by Arteta. Because he does need to be rotated with Zubimendi. Zubi is a great player but he does need to rest and be rotated with Norgaard.
And YES I would trust a midfield of Norgaard, Rice Havertz. Or Zubimendi, Rice and Eze. Or Norgaard, Eze and Rice. Its not dropping Odegaard. Its giving him enough time to rest, reset and come back better.
Now Arteta needs to find a midfield for the league and a midfield for the Champions League.
If he continues to play the same team for all competition we will fall between all the stools.
Madueke terrifies defenders but his end product is zilch. He would probably get the prize for winning the most corners but when it comes to goals he’ll be in the relegation zone.
Following last night’s win, we will face one of the following, Olimpakos, Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusan or Atalanta in the last sixteen.
Morning all
Madueke is little short of frustrating. He’s a bit like a kid who needs a bit of extra help at school, only our winger needs extra coaching on his end product.
Morning Devil.
Kev, if a good offer comes in for Odegaard, we’d be foolish to turn it down. Not only Havertz but Nwaneri next summer would be better imo. That’s the first time I’ve seen someone get Gyokeres. Early days I know but I can see the two making a difference to our attacking play over the next few months. Just pray Havertz doesn’t break again.
New post up by the way.
So 4 of the five Premier teams miss the play offs , only Newcastle get the extra game and it just happens to be the same week that they play City in the league.