Arsenal made history on a dramatic European night, edging past Kairat Almaty 3–2 to record eight consecutive wins in the UEFA Champions League for the first time in the club’s history. The victory also confirmed the Gunners as the only team with a perfect record in the league phase, sealing top spot and automatic qualification for the Round of 16. On paper, it was a landmark achievement — one that should have sparked unfiltered celebration.
Softfootball understands that yet among the fanbase, the mood was anything but unanimous. Coming into the match, Arsenal were under scrutiny after a difficult run in the Premier League, having dropped points against Nottingham Forest and suffered a damaging home defeat to Manchester United.
Those results trimmed their lead at the top of the table to just four points over Manchester City, leaving supporters edgy and demanding reassurance. Against bottom-placed Kairat, many fans expected a statement — not a nervy finish.
Arsenal Fans Praise Havertz, Gyökeres Link-Up — But Raise Eyebrows at the Performance
A section of Arsenal supporters focused on the positives, particularly Kai Havertz’s return to the starting XI, which delivered immediate rewards.
@Jim led the appreciation posts, writing:
Kai Havertz appreciation post. What a way to mark his return on the starting lineup. A goal and an assist! That Kai-Gyokeres bromance? It’s fantastic, I hope to see it for the rest of the season. COYG 🤍❤️✌️
Others highlighted the attacking combinations and fluidity going forward. @gadzA said:
Great link up play albeit the quality of the opponent. Gyokeres looked great and the vertical play was beautiful tonight.
8 undefeated in the UCL, let’s keep it that way Gooners.
Onto Leeds on the weekend, 3 points needed.
COME ON GUNNERS.
@Elizabeth_145 struck a more celebratory tone, focusing on the bigger picture:
Arsenal smashing into the Champions League knockouts with that solid win over Kairat Almaty—pure class! Gunners are flying high, momentum is massive, this could be our year. COYG! 🔥⚽
“Is This How We Win the Champions League?” — Fans Slam Wastefulness and Defensive Lapses
However, a large portion of the fanbase was far from satisfied, questioning Arsenal’s intensity, finishing, and defensive discipline against inferior opposition.
@dizplintrading did not mince words:
That was shocking to be honest. Arteta did all this talk about being united and high spirits, and we just scrape a win against the bottom of the table team. Do me a favour.
Frustration over missed chances dominated the conversation. @aziakponoovwede vented:
This particular match was just down straight annoying. I couldn’t even count the amount of wasted chances. Is this how you intend to win the Champions League? We can’t even pipe Kairat?
Defensive errors also drew criticism, especially after conceding a second goal late on. @earl_pulse wrote:
Yes, well done boys! Tighten the defense. Kairat should not have had a second goal! But a win is a win 💪.
After the game, Arsenal’s striker viktor Gyokeres spoke to the team’s media shared via their official X handle, on his performance and how the team was able to bounce back from last weekend defeat. They posted:
Eyes on the League as Pressure Mounts
With domestic form wobbling, some fans were already looking ahead to the weekend. @oluwakayode stressed the need for consistency:
Great game. Now let’s use same approach against Leeds on weekend. Lastly, Eze must start every match henceforth if we want to win trophy.
The underlying message from supporters was clear: European excellence must now translate into league control, especially with Manchester City lurking and Arsenal’s margin for error shrinking.
Mikel Arteta In his post match reaction shared via their official team’s official X handle, spoke about the importance of having Kai havertz back into the team and scoring goals, ultimately helping the team’s confidence as they prepare for tougher games ahead. They posted:
What It Means Going Forward
Arsenal march into the Champions League Round of 16 with momentum, history made, and belief intact — eight wins from eight is no small feat. Yet the narrow victory over Kairat exposed lingering concerns that fans fear could resurface against elite opposition.
For Mikel Arteta, the challenge is balance: celebrating progress while fixing flaws. With Leeds up next and the title race tightening, Arsenal must prove that this record-breaking European run is a foundation — not a distraction — in their pursuit of silverware.
