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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Ed Aarons at the Emirates Stadium

Kai Havertz scores first of season as Arsenal muscle past Kairat to finish top

Kai Havertz is mobbed by his teammates after scoring
Kai Havertz scored his first goal of an injury-hit season as Arsenal ran out 3-2 winners against Kairat. Photograph: Ian Walton/AP

Arsenal’s challenge for the Premier League title may be showing some signs of wobbling but there are no such problems in the Champions League. An eighth successive victory means Mikel Arteta’s side have become the first team to end the league phase with a 100% record since it was introduced last season, with only a consolation goal in injury time denying them the distinction of winning all by a two-goal margin.

Whether that can translate into silverware in a competition that Arsenal have infamously never won and in which they have reached only one final remains to be seen. But even with a second-string side that once again showed the strength in depth at Arteta’s disposal, completing the job against the bottom side, Kairat, was never in doubt even when the Kazakh champions equalised after an early goal from Viktor Gyökeres.

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