Arsenal will be aiming to bounce back immediately from a humbling 3-2 defeat in the Premier League against Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium over the weekend. Their first loss at the Emirates this season cut the gap at the top of the table to just four points, and suddenly some Gunners fans may be getting anxious.
They have the perfect chance to put things right against Kairat on Wednesday night, with the visitors bottom of the UEFA Champions League (UCL) league phase table. A convincing victory would boost the team's confidence ahead of a potentially tricky trip to Elland Road to face Leeds on Saturday afternoon.
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Arsenal vs Kairat prediction: Gunners to get back on track?
Key stats
- Arsenal have won all seven UCL games.
- Kairat have lost their last four UCL matches.
- Arsenal have scored the joint-most (20) and conceded the fewest (two) goals in the UCL.
Correct score prediction: Arsenal 4-0 Kairat
Despite Arsenal's troubles in the league recently, they should have few problems against Kairat. It is a mismatch on paper, and the Gunners could fill their boots.
Pre-game odds and win probability: Arsenal almighty favourites with bookmakers
- HOME: 1/16 (1.06) – 94.1%
- DRAW: 14/1 (15.00) – 6.7%
- AWAY: 28/1 (29.00) – 3.4%
*odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change
As shown by the implied probabilities, Arsenal are unsurprisingly the big favourites with bookmakers to claim all three points on home soil. Both a draw and a Kairat win are not fancied at all at under 7%.
Also, feel free to check out our dedicated Today’s betting tips page, as well as our Today’s Champions League predictions & betting tips page.
Most recent H2Hs: First meeting
This will be the first time that Arsenal and Kairat have ever met in competitive action. The Gunners should be confident of finishing this maiden meeting with victory.
Arsenal preview: Rice and Merino suspended
Both Declan Rice and Mikel Merino are suspended after picking up yellow cards in Arsenal's 3-1 win away at Inter Milan. However, the Gunners will be hoping that both Riccardo Calafiori and Kai Havertz could play a part after their respective injury struggles.
Predicted lineup: Raya (GK); White, Mosquera, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly; Norgaard, Eze, Havertz; Madueke, Gyokeres & Martinelli
Last five results:
- Arsenal 2-3 Manchester United
- Inter Milan 1-3 Arsenal
- Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal
- Chelsea 2-3 Arsenal
- Portsmouth 1-4 Arsenal
Kairat preview: Just one injury
Azamat Tuyakbaev is Kairat's only injury doubt ahead of this clash. They are expected to field their strongest XI possible.
Predicted lineup: Anarbekov (GK); Myrnskiy, Shirobokov, Sorokin, Mata; Glazer, Kasabulet; Gromyko, Jorginho, Ricardinho & Edmilson
Last five results:
- Kairat 1-4 Club Brugge
- Varazdin 0-0 Kairat
- Kairat 0-1 Olympiacos
- Copenhagen 3-2 Kairat
- Inter Milan 2-1 Kairat
Player to watch: Viktor Gyokeres
With question marks over the number of goals Arsenal's forward players are scoring, Viktor Gyokeres could silence a lot of his critics here. The Swede scored against Inter in the UCL last time out, and will surely fancy his chances against a vastly inferior opponent in Kairat.