Arsenal 3-2 Kairat Player Ratings: Gunners Edge Out in a Five-Goal Thriller To Keep their Unbeaten UCL Run Intact

A chaotic and thrilling end to the night as Arsenal narrowly see off Kairat Almaty at the Emirates Stadium. It was a game that had just about everything.

Arsenal burst out of the gates like a team which is well-gelled. Viktor Gyokeres opened the scoring in the second minute, but Kairat quickly restored parity through a penalty from Jorginho in the seventh minute.

However, one of the best teams in the world right now, Arsenal, hit back with goals from Kai Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli to have a healthy lead going into the second half. It honestly felt like the game was over at halftime.

Nevertheless, we have to give massive credit to Kairat. They refused to give up till the very end. They came out for the second half with renewed purpose and nearly pulled off an incredible comeback, as Ricardinho found the back of the net in the 94th minute.

That late goal made for an exceptionally nervy finish for the home fans, but the Gunners held their shape to maintain their unbeaten record in the UEFA Champions League this season.

Check out the Arsenal vs Kairat Player Ratings.

Key Takeaways

• Arsenal were the superior of the two sides, seeing more of the ball and being more accurate in terms of passing.
• Gyokeres put the hosts in the lead early on, but Jorginho equalized from the spot.
• Kai Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli registered their names on the scoresheet, while Ricardinho pulled one back in the final few minutes.

Arsenal Player Ratings vs Kairat

Here are the Arsenal Player Ratings from the Arsenal vs Kairat Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Kepa Arrizabalaga - 6.0: It felt like he didn't have a whole lot to do for most of the game, which makes conceding two goals a bit of a stinger. We can't really blame him for the penalty. The second goal was a bullet header from point-blank range, with very little chance. He was tidy with his feet, but it was a pretty uneventful night for him personally, despite the scoreline.

Defenders

Cristhian Mosquera - 7.0: A really solid and composed performance at the back. What stood out to us was how clean he was in possession, barely misplacing a pass all night. He won the majority of his duels and made some important clearances. A very mature display.

Ben White - 7.5: Led the team and played like a true captain. He popped up with a lovely assist for Kai Havertz's goal. Defensively, he was astute, making three key interceptions. We noticed his positioning was excellent throughout, snuffing out danger before it developed. A proper leader's performance.

Riccardo Calafiori - 4.0: Oh dear. This was a nightmare 45 minutes for the defender. He was clumsy in giving away the penalty and immediately looked short of confidence. Getting a yellow card on top of that just summed up his half. From our perspective, it was no surprise at all to see him hooked at halftime. One to forget.

Myles Lewis-Skelly - 5.5: A difficult evening for the youngster. He seemed to be struggling with the pace of the game at times, giving away four fouls. He worked hard but wasn't able to offer much of an outlet going forward. It felt like a big learning curve for him.

Midfielders

Eberechi Eze - 8.5: He was the conductor of the orchestra. Everything creative for Arsenal seemed to flow through him. Six key passes is a testament to his vision and influence. He was a constant threat, and Kairat just couldn't get near him. A magical performance.

Christian Nørgaard - 7.0: The engine room of the team. He was quietly effective, breaking up play and recycling possession with intelligence. He won eight of his ten duels, which shows the kind of physical presence he provided. A really solid, if unspectacular, outing.

Kai Havertz - 9.0: Simply unplayable in the first half. He scored one, assisted another, and was at the heart of every good thing Arsenal did. His movement and intelligence were on another level. We were genuinely shocked when he was substituted at halftime; he was the highest-rated player on the pitch and looked set for a hat-trick. A breathtaking 45 minutes.

Forwards

Noni Madueke - 6.0: A frustrating player to watch. He has so much talent and can beat a man with ease, as shown by his seven successful dribbles. But his decision-making and end product were sorely lacking. Losing possession 24 times is just not good enough. He has the potential to be a world-beater, but he needs to add more substance to his style.

Viktor Gyökeres - 8.0: A classic striker's performance in many ways. He got his goal and a crucial assist, but from our perspective, he'll be kicking himself for not going home with the match ball. Missing four big chances is the only reason he doesn't get a higher rating. He was a constant menace.

Gabriel Martinelli - 8.0: Electric. He was a livewire down the left flank all game. He took his goal well and created four chances for his teammates. His direct running caused endless problems for the Kairat defence. A very impressive display full of energy and intent.

Substitutes

Piero Hincapié - 6.5: Came on for the struggling Calafiori and helped shore things up. A steady and reliable presence.

Martin Ødegaard - 6.5: Brought some control to the midfield but couldn't replicate Havertz's first-half impact. Had a couple of shots saved.

Gabriel Jesus - 6.0: Looked sharp and was unlucky to have a goal disallowed by VAR. Caused problems with his movement.

Brando Bailey-Joseph - N/A: Not enough time to make a significant impact.

Ife Ibrahim - N/A: Came on late to help see the game out.

Manager

M. Arteta - 6.5: The first-half game plan was executed to perfection. Arsenal were devastating. However, the decision to substitute Kai Havertz at halftime remains a mystery to us. The team lost its grip on the game in the second half and nearly paid the price. A win is a win, but he made it harder than it needed to be.

Kairat Player Ratings vs Arsenal

Here are the Kairat Player Ratings from the Arsenal vs Kairat Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Temirlan Anarbekov - 8.5: What a performance. If it wasn't for him, this could have been a cricket score. He made an incredible seven saves, many of them from point-blank range. He was a colossal presence in goal and gave his team a fighting chance. We thought he was absolutely outstanding and Kairat's Man of the Match.

Defenders

Aleksandr Shirobokov - 6.0: Like his defensive partners, he was under constant pressure. He made a few important tackles and clearances but was part of a backline that was stretched to its limit. A battling performance.

Aleksandr Martynovich - 6.5: The captain led by example with his commitment. He threw his body on the line, making nine clearances and blocking three shots. He was a warrior at the back, even if he was ultimately on the losing side.

Egor Sorokin - 6.0: A busy, busy night for the defender. He made eight clearances and was constantly firefighting. He was part of a defence that bent but, thanks to their keeper, didn't completely break.

Midfielders

Luís Mata - 5.0: Found it incredibly tough against the pace and trickery of Arsenal's wingers. He was chasing shadows for much of his time on the pitch before being substituted. A difficult evening's work.

Dan Glazer - 5.5: He was overrun in the midfield, particularly in the first half. He struggled to get a foothold in the game as Eberechi Eze and Kai Havertz ran riot. Worked hard but was outclassed.

Adilet Sadybekov - 6.0: He put in a real shift defensively. He made a few important tackles and interceptions. While he couldn't influence the game much in possession, his work rate was commendable.

Erkin Tapalov - 5.5: Another player who had a torrid time defensively. He won a good number of his duels but struggled to contain the attacking waves coming at him. Substituted after an hour.

Forwards

Aleksandr Mrynskiy - 5.0: We barely noticed he was on the pitch. He was completely isolated and starved of service. A thankless task for him, trying to lead the line against a dominant Arsenal side.

Jorginho - 7.5: Kairat's biggest threat. He showed great composure to win and then score the penalty. He was a constant nuisance, drawing five fouls from the opposition. His departure through injury was a big blow.

Edmilson - 5.0: Much like Mrynskiy, he had very little impact on the game. He struggled to get involved and was forced to track back for most of his time on the pitch. An injury ended his difficult night.

Substitutes

Valeri Gromyko - 7.0: Made a real difference when he came on, providing the assist for the second goal.

Ricardinho - 7.5: Scored a great header to set up a grandstand finish. A fantastic impact from the bench.

Damir Kasabulat - 6.0: Added some fresh legs to the midfield battle.

Lev Kurgin - 6.0: Did a solid job after coming on.

Ramazan Bagdat - N/A: Not enough time to make an impact.

Manager

R. Urazbakhtin - 7.0: His team looked dead and buried at halftime. He deserves immense credit for the spirit they showed in the second half. His substitutions were positive and almost earned them a historic point. He can be very proud of his team's fight.

Man of the Match

Sportsdunia's man of the match is Arsenal's Kai Havertz.

Worst Performer

Riccardo Calafiori was the worst performer in the Arsenal vs Kairat game.