Arsenal XI vs Kairat: Confirmed team news, predicted lineup and injury latest for Champions League

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Evening Standard

·27 January 2026

Arsenal XI vs Kairat: Confirmed team news, predicted lineup and injury latest for Champions League

Fringe players hoping for chance to impress against Kazakh champions

Arsenal are expected to rotate for their Champions League match at home to Kairat on Wednesday night.

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It is a dead rubber for the Gunners, who have already wrapped up a top-two finish with seven straight wins ahead of their final league-phase match.

As a result, Mikel Arteta will surely be eyeing Saturday's trip to Leeds as the priority this week.

Mikel Merino and Declan Rice will not be involved against Kairat, having picked up bookings in the win over Inter Milan that mean they are suspended.

William Saliba and Jurrien Timber both missed training on Tuesday and Arteta confirmed the pair will miss the match with "some niggles".

Kepa Arrizabalaga will start in goal, as he has done in the cup competitions all season, while Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ben White are also likely to come into the side.

Riccardo Calafiori is back in training and could be given minutes here. Marli Salmon, the 16-year-old defender, will also hope to be involved in some capacity.

In midfield, Christian Norgaard should come into the side considering the suspensions and Eberechi Eze is also expected to get minutes.

Arteta must decide whether to hand Kai Havertz a first start in almost a year. Minutes off the bench could be more likely, which could mean Viktor Gyokeres leads the line.

Predicted Arsenal XI (4-3-3): Kepa; White, Mosquera, Hincapie, Lewis-Skelly; Norgaard, Odegaard, Eze; Madueke, Gyokeres, Martinelli

Injured: Dowman, Saliba, Timber

Suspended: Rice, Merino

Date and time: 8pm GMT on Wednesday, January 28

Venue: Emirates Stadium

How to watch: TNT Sports