Arsenal maintains unbeaten run in Champions League with narrow victory over Kairat
Arsenal secured a 3-2 victory against Kairat at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night, marking their eighth consecutive win in this season’s Champions League. Despite the triumph, coach Mikel Arteta expressed dissatisfaction over the two goals conceded during the match, reports BritPanorama.
Following a disappointing loss to Manchester United in their previous outing, the Gunners rebounded effectively, with Viktor Gyokeres, Kai Havertz, and Gabriel Martinelli contributing to the scoreline. Kairat, however, managed to find the back of the net twice, courtesy of Jorginho and Ricardinho, but ultimately left London without a point.
In his post-match press conference, Arteta praised his team’s performance for maintaining their perfect record in the tournament. Yet, he acknowledged the disappointment regarding the defensive lapses that led to the goals conceded. “Yes, I’m very proud of the players and the run that we had in this first stage of the competition,” the 43-year-old reflected. “It’s very difficult to win eight games in a row in the Champions League.” He noted the significance of this achievement given the challenges faced by other teams in the competition.
Arteta highlighted that while the game commenced positively, the defensive performance fell short of expectations. “We demanded a lot of attitude from everyone. We were disappointed with the two goals we conceded and with our efficiency in front of goal, as we should have scored many more.” He concluded that the match served as a positive end to the first part of the competition.
A notable highlight for Arsenal was the return of Havertz to form, as he scored in this fixture after struggling with injuries earlier in the season. Arteta described Havertz’s performance as a “very positive thing” for the team. “He showed great quality, connecting well with the team, and his goal and assist have provided much-needed confidence,” he remarked. Havertz’s versatility as a player was also noted by Arteta, who emphasized his ability to adapt to multiple roles within the squad.
Looking ahead, Arsenal will be back in action against Leeds United on Saturday, as they seek to build on their recent success and continue their strong form in both domestic and European competitions.
In this whirlwind of matches, the juxtaposition of winning yet conceding raises intriguing questions about Arsenal’s defensive strategies moving forward. How they resolve these inconsistencies could shape their trajectory as they progress deeper into both the Premier League and Champions League.
