Arsenal closed out the Champions League group phase with a 3-2 win over Kairat Almaty – a scoreline that suggests a contest far closer than it ever was.
The Gunners effectively settled matters before the break, with goals from Viktor Gyokeres, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli. Despite having enough chances to rack up a cricket score, that was as good as it got for the home side in front of goal.
Despite bowing out of the competition bottom of the table, Kairat went out on a high. A VAR-awarded penalty shortly after Arsenal’s opener allowed Jorginho (not that one) to score, before a last-gasp header by Ricardinho sent the travelling fans wild. Good on them.
Here’s what the managers, players, pundits and stattos made of the action…
Arteta on completing the Champions League group phase with a 100 per cent record…
At the end, that shows that we can consistently perform at this level and if it’s the first time, how difficult it is to do it. The players need to acknowledge that and feel even more conviction about what we’re able to do. But that’s it. Now the competition stops. We have a period of reflection as to what we’ve done. We’re going to start to prepare when we know our next opponent, what is next, and that’s it. And then go game by game because you know that this competition, an action and a moment can change the whole story, and we are very conscious of that
Source: Post-game press conference
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Kairat coach Rafael Urazbaktin on his side’s stoic performance…
Well done to the lads. I’m very grateful to them. Of course, it was very difficult for us today, as Arsenal are one of the strongest teams in Europe. They have very talented individual players. In the first half, we gave them too much, we couldn’t figure them out and conceded in the opening minutes. Of course, that wasn’t part of our plan, but nevertheless, the lads did well. They stood up to them admirably and managed to score twice. I’ve just been told that no side has managed to score twice against Arsenal [in the league phase].
Source: UEFA.com
Viktor Gyokeres on netting, but Arsenal struggling to add to their tally after the break…
We could’ve done much better in the second half. We weren’t playing as fast and as direct as in the first half, and yeah, I think that’s why we didn’t score in the second half. It’s a great feeling to score goals, and to help the team. I think we could’ve performed better overall in the game, but of course, I’m always happy with scoring.
Source: Arsenal.com
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Kairat’s goalscorer Jorginho on playing at the Emirates…
The thing I feel the most is gratitude. I’m very grateful to have had this experience and I’m proud and happy that I was able to bring my family here to the stadium. Of course, scoring with them supporting me live is an amazing feeling. We need to be proud of everyone, of the club and the country. It’s a dream come true for many of us. Maybe it will be the first and the last time, so just enjoy it. Be happy and proud. It was a game of one-way traffic. They kept the ball pretty much all of the time in our half. Football rewarded us in the end with two goals. But they deserved the win. We need to be humble enough to say that.
Source: UEFA.com
Arteta on Kai Havertz’s man-of-the-match display…
Unbelievable. For a player that has been out for so long to perform with that clarity, with that energy, with that efficiency, very impressive. We know Kai, how much he can give us in different positions, different roles, different contexts. He’s a player that makes us much, much better.
Source: Arsenal.com
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Myles Lewis-Skelly on Arsenal ending the group stage with a perfect record…
For me, perfection is non-existent, but we’re definitely at a very high level. I think that’s credit to us, the boys, the manager and the environment we have around the team. It’s such a special group, and we hold each other accountable. Every day it matters. This is a very good step. It [being favourites] is something that we can embrace, we’re not going to shy away from that tag of being favourites, but within us, we know that it’s just another game, just another opportunity to go out there, enjoy it and get the job done.
Source: UEFA.com
Arteta on Arsenal securing home ties in the second leg of the knockout stages…
In principle, on paper, it’s something positive. The main thing was to avoid another two games with the schedule that we have already and then make the most out of it. We have to wait and see who our next opponent is going to be, and in the meantime, we’re going to be so busy with the other competitions.
Source: Post-game press conference
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Gyokeres on debuts for Ife Ibrahim and Brando Bailey-Joseph
It’s amazing to see. For them to make their debut here at home must be an amazing feeling for them. It’s good for us as a team to give them the chance.
Source: Arsenal.com