Arsenal Tula
- Arsenal Tula have not lost any of their last 3 home games against Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk, a sequence which gives a slight edge to the hosts on Sunday.
- Dmitri Gunko has been at the helm since 18 June 2025, but Arsenal Tula have been a bit too erratic of late, drawing 4 of their last 10 matches across all competitions, winning just 1 and losing 5.
- After a 1-0 away defeat to FC Yenisey Krasnoyarsk and a 1-4 home loss to Rodina Moscow to conclude a wretched week in FNL 2026-2027, the signs are not good that Gunko's team can pull away from the relegation scrap.
Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk
- Robert Evdokimov took the Neftekhimik helm on 26 May 2026 and has built his side on a compact low-to-medium block with quick vertical breaks.
- Neftekhimik have lost 3 of their 6 games on the road across all-competitions (W1, D2, L3), so they won't be travelling to Tula full of swagger on Sunday.
- Their 10-game form is mixed, with 3 wins, 3 draws and 4 defeats keeping them well in the mid-table battle.
Head-to-Head
The last game between the two in FNL 2025/2026 finished 0-0 here, while 2 of the last 3 games between these clubs have ended tied.
Betting Insights
- Arsenal are favourites here at 1.91, with Neftekhimik4.27 and the draw 3.43, which tells us that this should be a close game.
- Under 2.5 goals (1.67) and Both Teams to Score: No (1.75) also appeals, as Arsenal average 1.40 goals per game at home this season (all-competitions), but they've looked blunted in their most recent outings.
Prediction
- We agree, and the most likely scenario in a possession vs counter game like this is an Arsenal nick or another draw.
- Neftekhimik will stay narrow, deny the central areas and will try to nick their chances on the counter or from set pieces - the classic counterpunch.
