Havertz Shines in Arsenal's Perfect Champions League Campaign
Kai Havertz marked his first competitive start in 357 days with a goal, helping Arsenal secure a flawless Champions League group stage with a 3-2 victory over Kairat. The Gunners completed the league phase with eight wins from eight matches, conceding just four goals, two of which came from the Kazakh side in this final fixture.
Match Highlights and Fan Reactions
Arsenal took an early lead when Viktor Gyokeres scored his fourth Champions League goal of the season within two minutes. Kairat equalised through a Jorginho penalty, but Havertz's strike – his first since February – and a tap-in from Gabriel Martinelli put the Premier League leaders back in control. A late consolation from Ricardinho did little to dampen Arsenal's celebrations as they claimed top spot in the group.
Despite playing only 45 minutes, Havertz was named Player of the Match for his influential midfield performance. This display prompted many Arsenal supporters to take to social media, urging manager Mikel Arteta to start the Germany international in domestic fixtures, potentially at the expense of summer signing Gyokeres.
Gyokeres Responds to Havertz's Impact
Gyokeres, who cost Arsenal £64 million, acknowledged Havertz's impressive return while reflecting on the team's overall performance. Speaking to Arsenal's official website, he said: 'It was great to have Kai back, and he performed great this game, even though he only played 45 minutes. I think we started well, apart from the penalty that we gave away, and then yeah, I think we scored some nice goals.'
However, the striker also highlighted areas for improvement: 'We could've done much better in the second half. We weren't playing as fast and as direct as in the first half, and that's why we didn't score in the second half.' Gyokeres added that while he was happy to contribute a goal, the team could have performed better overall.
Arteta's Perspective and Future Fixtures
Mikel Arteta, who celebrated his 200th win as Arsenal manager, expressed his delight at Havertz's return. 'We realised straight away how much we missed him,' Arteta said. 'What he brings to the team, his creativity, what he links with people, his intuition in front of goal as well so very, very happy to have him.'
On Arsenal's European progress, Arteta added: 'We won eight games out of eight which is so difficult to do, so credit to the boys. We close this chapter now and we can focus on other competitions.' The victory grants Arsenal a privileged position in the knockout stages, with home advantage in the second round.
Arsenal now turn their attention to domestic duties, with a Premier League clash against Leeds United on Saturday. Their next five fixtures include key matches against Chelsea in the Carabao Cup, Sunderland and Brentford in the league, and Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup.
Champions League Prospects and Team Dynamics
Arsenal's possible opponents in the Champions League last-16 are Atalanta, Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund, and Olympiakos. As the team prepares for these challenges, the competition for starting places intensifies, particularly with Havertz's return adding depth to the squad.
Gyokeres's comments underscore a team-focused mentality, but the pressure from fans to integrate Havertz into the Premier League lineup highlights the ongoing debate over Arsenal's best attacking configuration. With the Gunners aiming for their first league title since 2004, Arteta's selection decisions will be crucial in the coming weeks.
