On paper, Arsenal’s clash with Kairat Almaty isn’t one of excitement, but for one reason, it should be.
Being the perfectionist that he is, Mikel Arteta will want to make it eight wins from eight in the league phase of the 2025/26 Champions League.
The pre-match consensus is that the Arsenal manager is likely to achieve the feat, as Kairat Almaty sit bottom of the Champions League table, having collected one point and conceded nine goals.
Still, Kairat are the kings of Kazakhstan for a reason, and won’t be an easy opponent, which presents the challenge for some Arsenal academy stars to show Arteta what they’re made of.
Which players would you like to see rotated against Kairat?
Ife Ibrahim could make his Arsenal debut against Kairat Almaty
In truth, the player fans all wanted to see face Kairat when the league phase fixtures were announced was Max Dowman.
Dowman did not report to training as he continues to recover from the ankle injury that has kept him out of action since December.
Talent in Arsenal’s academy doesn’t begin and end with Dowman, which is why fans should keep their eyes on whether Ife Ibrahim could feature.
It could be a week to remember for the 18-year-old, as Ibrahim just signed his first professional contract at Arsenal, having been at Hale End since he was seven.
Registered on the B list of Arsenal’s Champions League squad, there’s a particularly good chance that we could see Ibrahim feature against Kairat, as the midfield needs assistance.
With Mikel Merino and Declan Rice suspended and William Saliba and Jurrien Timber ruled out, Arteta’s midfield is short, particularly as Christian Norgaard could feature at centre-back and Myles Lewis-Skelly on the left.
It’s good news for Ibrahim, a defensive midfielder with the ability to drive forward, typical of a player inspired by Rice.
The teenager has never played for Arsenal’s first team, but tonight could be the night that N5 learns his name.
Ibrahim could follow in Bukayo Saka’s footsteps in Europe
On X, Arsenal academy follower Will Balsam described Ibrahim as a midfielder who ‘eats up space, recovers the ball, and glides past players with ease.’
Arsenal need all of the above right now, so Arteta would be wise to unleash Ibrahim against Kairat.
Fill the blanks: I think Arsenal will score __ goals against Kairat Almaty
Testing academy talents in European competitions has certainly worked for Arsenal before, as Bukayo Saka made his debut for the Gunners in the Europa League against Vorskla Poltava.
Unai Emery introduced 17-year-old Saka from the bench, and the rest was history.
With Kairat arriving in North London, now could be the optimum time for Arteta to expose Ibrahim to first-team football, hoping that it’ll have a similar impact.
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