By
SABC Sport
29th January 2026
Viktor Gyokeres put the Gunners ahead at the Emirates after just two minutes, but the Kazakhstan Premier League leaders were level when Jorginho netted a seventh minute penalty.
Arsenal were in the lead again though on 15 minutes through Kai Havertz before a 36th minute Gabriel Martinelli strike.
Ricardinho netted a 94th minute consolation for the visitors, who ended their evening in bottom place on the 36-team standings.
Mikel Arteta's side had already secured a place in the last 16, but speaking after the match, a delighted Gunners boss expressed his pride in his players.
He said on SuperSport: "I am very proud of the players and the run that we have had in the first stage of the competition.
"It is very difficult to win eight games in a row in the Champions League and you can see what has happened with other teams."
Arsenal will face the winners of the knockout phase play-off between 15th and 16 or 17th and 18th - Atalanta, Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund or Olympiacos.
Tottenham Hotspur, meanwhile, needed a win to progress to the last 16, and netted two second half goals to see off Eintracht Frankfurt in their Champions League group stage encounter.
After a goalless opening period, it took two minutes for Randal Kolo Muani to hit the back of the net, before Dominic Solank sealed a 2-0 win with his 77th minute effort.
The result saw Spurs progress to the next phase as fourth place finishers behind leaders Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Liverpool.
Frankfurt find themselves in 33rd with just four points from eight games, including one win, one draw and six losses.
Thomas Frank praised Tottenham's "incredible" achievement, having come under pressure in recent Premier League games, with his side sitting in 14th place.
He said on BBC Sport: "I am very proud of the players and the character shown. It is a big step to finish top eight and to actually finish fourth in the Champions League is incredible.
"I'm very happy with the result, but even more happy with the performance. We looked in control more or less throughout the game. It was a more than well-deserved 2-0 win."
Frank's team will next play one of Club Brugge, Galatasaray, Juventus or Atletico Madrid in the last 16.
Chelsea have Joao Pedro to thank for their hard-fought 3-2 win away to Napoli on Wednesday night.
Enzo Fernandez got the scoring underway with a 19th minute penalty, but Chelsea found themselves trailing to goals from Antonio Vergara (33') and Rasmus Hojlund (43') before a second half Pedro (61', 82') brace.
The Blues ended the evening in sixth on the Champions League standings, and play either Monaco, Qarabag, Paris Saint-Germain or Newcastle United in the last 16.
After the game, Blues boss Liam Rosenior told TNT Sports: "I thought the character of the players, their resilience in the second half and their reaction to going behind was so positive.
"I wanted to go aggressive in the first half - we had win back moments in their half, but the gaps were too big, so we corrected it at half-time.
"Magnificent performance from Pedro. He has given me that since I have come to the club. For the lads to come from behind and show their character makes me very happy head coach.
"I'm learning all the time about my team, about what we're capable of. I really wanted to be front-footed today. I wanted to go out and win the game.
"You're in the Champions League, so at the end of the day you have to play against the best and beat the best. I am delighted we are through in this manner."
The last-16 draw takes place on Friday, February 27.
