After a shocking 3-2 defeat to Manchester United at the weekend, Arsenal will host Kazakhstani side Kairat Almaty in a dead-rubber game. 

Arsenal currently leads the UCL league table with 21 points from all available 21 points, meaning they have secured a place in the last 16 regardless of the result of the game against Kairat. 

Kaiart themselves will bow out of the UCL regardless of the result as they sit last in the UCL table with just 1 point. 

However, while this game doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things in the UCL, it is a chance for Arsenal to show their mentality after the loss to Manchester United. The Gunners haven’t exactly put up impressive performances lately, and facing Kairat is a chance to show that they can get their groove on.

👊 Bouncing back
📋 Fixture schedule
⚔️ Our opposition

Every word from Mikel’s pre-Kairat Almaty press conference 👇

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) January 27, 2026

Team News

Arsenal played Manchester United with Calafiori and Dowman as their only absentees, but now, Timber and Saliba have joined them with minor injuries. Rice and Merino will be out due to yellow-card suspensions, meaning Arteta may heavily rotate his squad.

Mikel Arteta provides a fitness update on William Saliba and Jurrien Timber 👇

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) January 27, 2026

Kairat are without any new injuries. However, Chelsea-bound Dastan Satpaev remains a doubt for the trip to Arsenal.

Arsenal vs Kairat Predicted XI

Arsenal Predicted XI

Kepa; White, Mosquera, Hincapie, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Norgaard, Eze; Madueke, Gyokeres, Martinelli

Kairat Predicted XI

Anarbekov; Tapalov, Martynovich, Sorokin, Mata; Sadybekov, Glazer; Mrynskiy, Jorginho, Gromyco; Edmilson