Arsenal’s challenge for the Premier League title may be showing some signs of wobbling but there are no such problems in the Champions League. An eighth successive victory means Mikel Arteta’s side have become the first team to end the league phase with a 100% record since it was introduced last season, with only a consolation goal in injury time denying them the distinction of winning all by a two-goal margin.

Whether that can translate into silverware in a competition that Arsenal have infamously never won and in which they have reached only one final remains to be seen. But even with a second-string side that once again showed the strength in depth at Arteta’s disposal, completing the job against the bottom side, Kairat, was never in doubt even when the Kazakh champions equalised after an early goal from Viktor Gyökeres.

The £64m striker endured another frustrating evening as he somehow failed to add to his tally after that despite numerous opportunities. It was a different story for Kai Havertz, who sparkled on his first start for almost a year owing to a series of injuries. He scored the second either side of setting up Gyökeres and Gabriel Martinelli to help establish Arsenal’s supremacy before the break. The Germany forward was withdrawn at half-time with the damage done. Having a player of such quality available again will be crucial as Arsenal’s quest for a quadruple remains alive.

“He’s going to give us so much,” said Arteta. “The team knows how important Kai is for us and how he can help take the team to a different level. So the fact that he was able today to do that after such a long time is very impressive.”

Asked whether Arsenal had laid down a marker by winning all eight games, he added: “The players need to acknowledge that and feel even more conviction about what we’re able to do.”

There was a reminder of Arsenal’s achievements so far in this competition on the pre-match programme, which featured images from each of their seven previous victories over illustrious names like Bayern Munich, Atlético Madrid and Inter. Unsurprisingly, Arteta opted to make 11 changes from the disappointing defeat to Manchester United at the weekend as Havertz was deployed in an advanced midfield role behind Gyökeres.

Kairat were without Dastan ­Satpaev, the 17-year-old who is due to join Chelsea this year, owing to injury and only named five outfield players on their bench. They have travelled more than 50,000 miles in a Champions League campaign that began in July and had picked up a solitary point in the league phase. There was still a sizeable contingent in the away end who made themselves heard at every opportunity.

Most would have feared the worst when Gyökeres slammed home from the edge of the area inside two minutes after a brilliant through-ball from Havertz. But Arsenal’s lead was short-lived as Riccardo Calafiori – back in the side after a month out with a hip problem – was adjudged to have tugged Jorginho’s shirt inside the area and the Kairat captain stroked home for the spot to the audible delight of the travelling supporters.

That was as good as things got for them until almost the final kick of the match. A brilliant individual goal from Havertz after he latched on to Ben White’s long pass and then cut inside to curl past Temirlan Anarbekov restored Arsenal’s advantage. Gyökeres, who seemed determined to cash in after Gabriel Jesus was preferred against Inter and United, could have had a hat-trick before half-time but spurned two gilt-edged chances. The Sweden striker thought he finally had a second when he got a touch on Havertz’s cross that was heading in, only for Martinelli to cheekily pinch it on the line and notch up his sixth goal of this year’s competition. It was all too much for poor Kairat.

Luckily for them, Havertz was withdrawn at the break and replaced by Martin Ødegaard. The Arsenal captain tried to keep up the intensity and saw his shot from distance palmed away to safety before directing a header straight at the goalkeeper. Jesus replaced Gyökeres with 20 minutes remaining and had a goal disallowed for offside. Arteta handed senior debuts to the midfielder Ife Ibrahim, who signed his first professional contract this week, and the winger Brando Bailey-Joseph.

Kairat’s supporters were still ­celebrating Ricardinho’s late header well after the final whistle as they managed to double the number of goals Arsenal have conceded in the league phase. For Arteta, there will be much bigger challenges to come.