Get ready for a potentially historic night at the Emirates Stadium! Arsenal stands on the brink of an immaculate league-phase campaign in the 2025/26 Champions League, poised to cap off a flawless run as they host Kairat Almaty this Wednesday.
## Arsenal’s European Pursuit: A Perfect Record in Sight
The Gunners have been nothing short of sensational in this season’s elite European competition. Having already decisively secured their passage to the knockout stages, a draw against Kairat Almaty is all they need to guarantee a coveted first-place finish in the league phase. Their formidable displays have unequivocally cemented their status as genuine title contenders.
Mikel Arteta’s squad has consistently delivered commanding performances, showcasing both tactical prowess and clinical execution. Their recent triumph on the road against Inter Milan, where their finishing proved the decisive factor, underscored their credentials on the grandest stage. Kairat, unfortunately, arrives in North London with their European journey for the season already concluded, having been eliminated from contention.
## Unveiling the Squads: Who Takes the Pitch?
With qualification secured and a gruelling schedule ahead, expect to see some strategic rotation from both camps.
### Arsenal Team News & Lineup
Mikel Arteta has indeed rung the changes, offering opportunities to several players. Kai Havertz steps into the midfield, while Kepa Arrizabalaga takes his place between the posts. Key figures like William Saliba and Jurriën Timber are sidelined due to injury, with Gabriel Jesus, Leandro Trossard, Martín Zubimendi, David Raya, Bukayo Saka, and Mikel Merino all rested for future challenges.
**Arsenal Starting XI:** Kepa Arrizabalaga, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Riccardo Calafiori, Cristhian Mosquera, Ben White, Kai Havertz, Christian Norgaard, Eberechi Eze, Gabriel Martinelli, Viktor Gyokeres, Noni Madueke
**Arsenal Substitutes:** Tommy Setford, Piero Hincapie, Gabriel Magalhaes, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Jesus, Leandro Trossard, Martín Zubimendi, Ife Ibrahim, Jack Porter, Brando Bailey-Joseph, Marli Salmon
### Kairat Almaty Team News & Lineup
Kairat will be looking to leave a positive mark despite their elimination, fielding a strong side against their high-flying opponents.
**Kairat Almaty Starting XI:** Temirlan Anarbekov, Egor Sorokin, Aleksandr Martynovich, Aleksandr Shirobokov, Luis Mata, Adilet Sadybekov, Dan Glazer, Erkin Tapalov, Jorginho, Edmilson, Aleksandr Mrynskiy
**Kairat Almaty Substitutes:** Damir Kasabulat, Lev Kurgin, Jug Stanojev, Danila Buch, Valeri Gromyko, Sherkhan Kalmurza, Ramazan Bagdat, Ricardinho
## How to Catch the Action: Broadcast Details
Don’t miss a moment of this Champions League showdown! The clash between Arsenal and Kairat Almaty kicks off at **20:00 GMT** (15:00 ET / 12:00 PT) on Wednesday.
In the UK, fans can tune in on **TNT Sports 2** or stream the match live via the **Discovery Plus app**. For viewers around the globe, consult your local rights holder to find out where to watch.
## The Tale of the Tape: Key Match Statistics
The statistics heading into this encounter paint a clear picture of Arsenal’s dominant European form:
* Arsenal boasts a perfect record, having won every single one of their Champions League league-phase fixtures.
* The Gunners’ defensive solidity is evident, having conceded a mere two goals throughout the competition so far.
* In stark contrast, Kairat has managed to secure only a single point from their Champions League campaign.
* Arsenal’s attacking prowess has seen them net at least three goals in four separate European matches this season.
* Kairat, on the other hand, has struggled to find the back of the net, failing to score in four of their six league-phase games.
## The Road Ahead: Champions League Knockout Phase Schedule
With the league phase drawing to a close, attention will soon turn to the intense knockout rounds that follow.
### Key Dates for the Knockout Stages (2026)
* **Knockout Phase Play-offs:** February 17/18 & February 24/25
* **Round of 16:** March 10/11 & March 17/18
* **Quarter-finals:** April 7/8 & April 14/15
* **Semi-finals:** April 28/29 & May 5/6
* **Final:** May 30 (Budapest)
### Champions League Draw Dates (2026)
* **Knockout Phase Play-offs Draw:** January 30
* **Round of 16, Quarter-final, Semi-final, and Final Draws:** February 27
## Understanding the Evolved Champions League Format (2025/26)
This season marks a significant evolution in the Champions League structure, moving away from the traditional group stage.
Teams now engage in an expanded **league phase**, where each side plays eight matches against different opponents – four at home and four away. Opponents are strategically drawn from four seeding pots, ensuring each team faces two opponents from each pot (one home, one away). All results contribute to a single, overarching league table.
The top eight teams in this unified league automatically advance to the Round of 16. Teams ranked from ninth to 24th will battle it out in a two-legged knockout phase play-off to earn their spot in the Last 16. Any team finishing 25th or lower will see their European journey conclude for the season.
## English Football’s Strong Showing: Six Clubs in the Champions League
Remarkably, England boasts six representatives in this season’s Champions League – a testament to the strength of the Premier League.
Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, and Newcastle United all secured their places by finishing within the top five of the Premier League. The additional spots are a reward for exceptional performance in UEFA’s co-efficient rankings, which gauge a nation’s collective success across European competitions.
Adding a unique flavour to the English contingent, Tottenham Hotspur qualified as Europa League champions. This occurred despite their challenging 2024/25 league campaign, which saw them finish 17th with only 11 wins and 22 losses.
## The Grand Finale: Budapest Awaits the Champions
The ultimate prize of European club football will be contested on **May 30, 2026**, at the state-of-the-art **Puskás Aréna in Budapest**. Opened in 2019, this impressive venue serves as the home of Hungary’s national team and has a history of hosting major European finals, including the dramatic 2022/23 Europa League final where Sevilla edged out Roma on penalties.
## Arsenal’s European Roster: The Champions League Squad (2025/26)
Arsenal’s List A Champions League squad has been officially registered and will remain valid until the Round of 16 in February 2026. At that point, clubs have the opportunity to register a maximum of three new players, provided they stay within the existing 25-player limit.
**Goalkeepers:** David Raya, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Tommy Setford
**Defenders:** William Saliba, Cristhian Mosquera, Ben White, Piero Hincapie, Gabriel, Jurrien Timber, Riccardo Calafiori
**Midfielders:** Martin Odegaard, Eberechi Eze, Christian Norgaard, Leandro Trossard, Noni Madueke, Mikel Merino, Kai Havertz, Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice
**Forwards:** Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Viktor Gyokeres, Gabriel Jesus
Furthermore, clubs can submit **List B players**, which includes those born after January 1, 2004, who have been eligible to represent the club for a continuous two-year period since their 15th birthday. These submissions can be made up until midnight on the day before each match.