By; Osabuohien Daniel
Arsenal have learned their four possible opponents for the UEFA Champions League round of 16 after finishing top of the league phase in emphatic fashion.
Goals from Viktor Gyökeres, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli sealed a 3–2 victory over Kazakhstani side Kairat at the Emirates Stadium, completing a flawless league-phase campaign for Mikel Arteta’s side. The result ensured the Gunners ended the phase with a perfect record of eight wins from eight matches, having already secured a top-two finish prior to the final round of fixtures.
Gyökeres opened the scoring just two minutes into the contest, netting his 10th goal for the club. However, Arsenal’s lead was short-lived, as Kairat were awarded a penalty moments later following a costly error from Riccardo Calafiori. Jorginho converted from the spot to restore parity for the visitors.
Arsenal quickly regained control, with Havertz marking his first start since August by finishing a move he had initiated. Gabriel Martinelli then continued his impressive European form, adding a third before half-time with his sixth goal of the competition. Although Kairat pulled one back with the final attack of the match, the outcome was already beyond doubt.
With the league phase complete, attention now turns to the knockout rounds. Arsenal, alongside second-placed Bayern Munich, will face one of Atalanta, Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund or Olympiacos in the round of 16. Those teams finished 15th through 18th respectively and will contest play-off ties to determine the final match-ups.
The exact opponents will be confirmed next month following the conclusion of the play-offs. The first legs of the round of 16 are scheduled for March 10 and 11, with the return fixtures taking place on March 17 and 18.
Having already secured their position at the top end of the table, Arteta opted to rotate heavily, making wholesale changes from the side that suffered a 3–2 defeat to Manchester United in the Premier League last weekend.
Havertz’s return was a particular highlight. The German forward had been sidelined since sustaining a serious knee injury on the opening day of the season. Speaking to TNT Sports, Arteta praised his influence:
“We have been missing him big time. He has been out for a long, long time. It’s great to see him back and starting in this context.”
Havertz justified that faith with a commanding performance. He provided a perfectly weighted assist for Gyökeres’ opener before scoring himself, cutting inside the defence and curling a precise effort beyond Temirlan Anarbekov. He was also instrumental in Arsenal’s third goal, his low square pass narrowly missed by Gyökeres before Martinelli applied the finish at the back post.
With momentum firmly on their side, Arsenal will now await the draw as they look to progress deeper into Europe’s premier club competition.
