UEFA Champions League leaders Arsenal are looking to complete a perfect league phase when they host Kazakhstan club Kairat on Wednesday evening.
The Gunners have won all seven of their matches and lead the standings with 21 points. They host the worst club in the competition, who have only one point.
Mikel Arteta’s side will be assured of a first-placed finish with just a point, while Kairat’s debut season has been one to forget.
Arsenal were 3-1 winners against Inter Milan last week, courtesy of a brace from Gabriel Jesus and a Viktor Gyokeres goal. Kairat on the other hand lost 4-1 to Club Brugge.
The English Premier League leaders are on the hunt for a first-ever Champions League trophy.
ALSO READ: UEFA Champions League round 8 predictions – preview, key stats, current form & h2h
They rank joint-first for goals scored (20) while conceding a competition-low two in the league phase so far, setting this up to be a rather easy win for the hosts.
We have a look at all the key details of the match and offer our predicted outcome.
What time does the game start?
The match kicks off at 11PM E.A.T
Arsenal vs Kairat team news
William Saliba and Jurrien Timber are the newest members on the Arsenal injury list and will sit this one out. Meaning Myles Lewis-Skelly and Cristhian Mosquera will start.
Declan Rice and Mikel Merino will also miss the game due to yellow-card suspensions, giving room for Christian Norgaard to feature.
Eberechi Eze has struggled in recent weeks but will start here, as well as Noni Madueke with Viktor Gyokeres leading the attacking line.
Chelsea-bound 17-year-old Dastan Satpaev – who will join the Blues this summer – missed the loss to Brugge with an injury, and his availability for Wednesday remains uncertain.
Furthermore, winter arrivals Lucas Africo, Jaakko Oksanen and Sebastian Zeballos are all ineligible for the league phase.
Arsenal vs Kairat head-to-head and current form
The Gunners 3-2 defeat to Manchester United last weekend is the only loss in their last five games.
Meanwhile, Kairat are without a win in seven games, losing four of their last five games. They have also conceded 10 goals in that run.
This will be the first competitive fixture between these two sides.
Current form
Arsenal – LWDWW
Kairat – LDLLL
Arsenal vs Kairat prediction
The hosts have everything working in their favor ahead of the clash and boast a much better squad on paper. They are the top scorers in the competition and are tipped to get at least two in the game.
Kairat have nothing to lose and will throw everything they have, looking to save face and exit the competition with something.
Though, Arsenal are the better side and are tipped as favorites to come out on top, with a convincing win.
Prediction – Arsenal to win + Over 2.5 goals – CLICK HERE TO PLACE YOUR BET ON THIS GAME
