Football Season Guide

Arsenal Tula are back in the top-flight after just a season away. They were relegated on a something of a sour note back then and will be determined to give a good account of themselves and show that they have learned as a team and processed since then. It is a different side from the one that Dmitry Aleinichev got promoted a couple of years ago. Sergey Pavlov masterminded a superb run of form in the second half of last season to instigate promotion, having took charge from Valeri Bulatov only in late February. The team won 11 and drew three out of the 14 gams played in the spring and that proved enough to eclipse Tom Tomsk in a tight battle for the second spot in the First Division. Arsenal played some fine football in this period and have the sort of momentum and confidence that is vital for a side that is competing after more resourceful opponents. The Tula side had a product transfer summer so far and acquired some good quality players who both have the experience and hunger to help the club. Roman Gerus is expected to the new regular keeper as Aleksandr Filtstov’s loan deal expired. Aleksandr Sheshukov, Oleg Vlasov and Ruslan Mukhametshin are decent additions who have played top-flight football for a number of years while striker Khyzyr Appaev is capable of stepping a level too, having played for title-winning Orenburg in the First Division last season. There is a decent core of players and the structure is certainly there for Arsenal to do quite well and keep themselves up. It depends on how well the new additions gel but Pavlov will be confident in his team and will back them to overcome the challenges ahead and ensure that their stay in the top-flight is not brief this time.