Zenit Vs Arsenal Tula Betting Tip: Zenit & BTTS – 14 September 2020

Gunners to deny Zenit their clean sheet

Douglas Santos / Zenit ©imago images / ITAR-TASS 08/30/2020

Zenit St Petersburg Vs Arsenal Tula

Monday 14 September 2020 – 16:30 (GMT)
Russian Premier League
Pick: Zenit Win & Both Teams to Score
Odds: 13/5
Bookmaker: Betway
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 11 September 2020)

Preview: The return of the Russian Premier League following the international breaks see reigning champions Zenit in action at their Gazprom Arena, hosting an Arsenal Tula whose form in the early stages suggests an upset is unlikely.

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Zenit Preview – Champions better for their mini-break?

The early signs were ominous. Zenit, bidding to finish on top of the Russian Premier League for a third season running after cruising to the title in 2019-20, opened with four successive victories over Rotor Volgograd, FK Rostov, CSKA Moscow and FC Tambov to stake an early claim for the lead. What followed, however, was a hugely frustrating spell in the capital.

After suffering a shock 1-0 defeat away to Dinamo Moscow, in a game which saw their Colombian midfieler Wilmar Barrios sent off late on, Zenit were then held to a goalless draw at Lokomotiv Moscow’s RZD Arena. Back-to-back games without registering a win, or even a goal scored, for only the second time since the start of last season.

The recent break for internationals probably arrive at just the right time for Sergei Semak. The Zenit manager having the benefit of the past two weeks to mull over what ultimately went wrong during his team’s recent outings. A return to winning ways should be forthcoming, though: Zenit remain unbeaten at their Gazprom Arena since December 2018, winning 17 of 22 home league games thereafter.

 

Over 2.5 Goals
8/11

Bet365

 

Arsenal Tula – Pressure mounting after slow start?

Finishing the 2019-20 Premier League in fine fettle, with seven points from their closing three games, should have instilled a belief into this Arsenal Tula side ahead of the club’s fourth consecutive season in the company of Russian football’s finest. However, ‘The Gunners’ have so far failed in their efforts to convert an encouraging finish into a promising start.

After six rounds, only three teams have fared worse than Sergei Podpaly’s men, who find themselves two points outside of the relegation zone after one win in six thus far. Ironically, that was against a Dinamo Moscow side who later inflict a first defeat of the season on Zenit. Meanwhile, dour draws with Akhmat Grozny and FC Khimki did little to offset losses against FC Ufa, Krasnodar and Spartak Moscow.

it is early days, though, and they will no doubt expect to get somewhere close to mid-table – where they’ve finished in each of the past three seasons – come next May. It may get worse before it does improve, though. Arsenal Tula’s road trips to the top three of Krasnodar, Lokomotiv Moscow and Zenit last term all resulted in defeat, although these were in contrast to what was otherwise a very solid away record: W7 D2 L6.

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Zenit Vs Arsenal Tula Betting Advice

Even though Zenit went into the international break on a dampener, their record on home soil since the start of last season really does speak for itself: W12 D5. The defending Premier League champions are two wins from two at home so far this season, though failed to win either without conceding – as was also the case for 14 of their previous 17 wins earned inside their Gazprom Arena.

 

Zenit Vs Arsenal Tula – Key Facts

  • Of the twelve times Zenit were victorious at home in the Russian Premier League since the start of last season, only three were accompanied by a clean sheet.
  • Arsenal Tula have netted on at least one occasion in 12 of their last 17 away league games, among them an equalising goal in a 3-1 defeat in Saint Petersburg last September.
  • Since Arsenal Tula were promoted to the Russian Premier League in 2015, Zenit have won four of their five meetings held in Saint Petersburg (W4 L1).

 

This looks a daunting assignment for the visitors, who did pull a goal back to draw level on their last visit to Saint Petersburg, only to concede another two to fall to a 3-1 loss. Furthermore, Arsenal Tula were a more than competent side on their travels last season, losing less than half the time (W7 D2 L6) whilst managing to score at least once in 11 of 15 away fixtures. Therefore, both teams scoring appeals at the odds. Zenit 2-1.

Best Betting Odds – Zenit Vs Arsenal Tula

Zenit – 1/4 (Bet365)
Draw – 9/2 (PaddyPower)
Arsenal Tula – 12/1 (Betfair)