Arsenal vs Kairat Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2025-26 UEFA Champions League | League Phase

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Arsenal are not necessarily wobbling but they are in a frustrating position as the Gunners welcome Kazakh champions Kairat Almaty to the Emirates Stadium.

Kick-off date/time: 28 January 2026 at 8:00 pm

How to watch on TV: UK – TNT Sports / US – Not televised

How to watch online: UK – discovery+ / US – Paramount+

Arsenal preview: Gunning for more

Arsenal come into this one on the back of a 3-2 loss at home to Manchester United in the Premier League. That has cut the Gunners’ lead at the top-of-the-table to four points in a league in which they really should almost have it wrapped up.

They are also at the top-of-the-table in the UEFA Champions League, too, though. They have won seven from seven after an extremely impressive 3-1 defeat of Italian league leaders Internazionale at San Siro last week.

Kairat preview: Playing for pride

Having beaten both Slovan Bratislava and Celtic on penalties in qualification for the UEFA Champions League, Kairat Almaty have become the most easterly team to qualify for the 36-team league phase, and they do, predictably, sit rock-bottom.

Kairat haven’t played domestic football for a few months now with their competitive outings since the end of November seeing them beaten 1-0 by Olympiacos and then 4-1 by Club Brugge in their most recent outing last week.

Arsenal team news: Couple of suspensions

There is an expectation that Arsenal will make a few changes for this one and heavily rotate. Midfield duo Declan Rice and Mikel Merino both picked up yellow cards to ensure that they are now missing through suspension.

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Raya; White, Mosquera, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Norgaard, Eze; Madueke, Gyokeres, Martinelli

Unavailable: Rice (Suspended), Merino (Suspended), Dowman (Injured)

Questionable: Calafiori (Injured)

Kairat team news: Satpaev a doubt

Key man Dastan Satpaev, who is moving to Chelsea in the summer, is a major injury doubt for the trip to the Emirates, while Olzhas Baibek may also be unavailable.

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Anarbekov; Tapalov, Martynovich, Sorokin, Mata; Glazer, Kassabulat; Mrynskiy, Jorginho, Gromyko; Edmilson

Unavailable: Africo (Ineligible), Arad (Injured), Oksanen (Ineligible), Zeballos (Ineligible), Tuyakbayev (Injured)

Questionable: Baibek (Injured), Satpaev (Injured)

Arsenal vs Kairat prediction

Arsenal are expected to heavily rotate for this one in north London. They should still come out on top quite comfortably against Kairat. Kairat had been relatively stubborn at the start of their league phase campaign before drifting defensively of late and they are also potentially without their star attacker. A comfortable and low key Arsenal victory is to be expected for this one in the English capital city.

Arsenal vs Kairat Tip: Arsenal to win to nil