CSKA Moscow Close Friendly Programme with 3-1 Win Over Arsenal Tula

CSKA Moscow wrapped up their international club friendly schedule with a comfortable 3-1 victory over Arsenal Tula at VEB Arena on Sunday evening. The match, played in front of a lively home crowd, gave the coaching staff a final look at squad depth before the competitive calendar resumes, and the hosts delivered a performance that mixed control with genuine cutting edge in the final third.

Match Overview

From the opening whistle, CSKA took the initiative. Their midfield pressed high, cutting off the short passing lanes Arsenal Tula rely on when building from the back, and the ball spent long spells in the visitors' half. The reward arrived inside the opening twenty minutes, when a quick combination down the right ended with a low finish into the far corner to make it 1-0.

Tula responded well for a spell. Their wingers pushed higher, they won a couple of corners, and they forced the CSKA goalkeeper into a sharp save at the near post. But the home side's second goal arrived against the run of that brief momentum — a turnover in midfield, a direct pass in behind, and a composed finish that doubled the advantage before the interval.

Key Moments

• 18th minute – 1-0 CSKA: A patient build-up down the right is finished off with a first-time strike at the back post.
• 41st minute – 2-0 CSKA: A midfield turnover is punished instantly, with the striker rounding the goalkeeper before rolling the ball in.
• 57th minute – 2-1: Arsenal Tula pull one back from a well-worked set piece, the ball flicked on at the near post and bundled home from close range.
• 78th minute – 3-1 CSKA: A substitute restores the two-goal cushion with a driven shot from the edge of the box after a short corner routine.

Tactical Story

CSKA lined up in a flexible 4-2-3-1 that became a 4-3-3 in possession, with the full-backs pushing high to pin Arsenal Tula's wide midfielders deep. That width was the defining feature of the game: the visitors simply could not cover both flanks and the central corridor at the same time, and CSKA repeatedly found the spare man on the switch.

Arsenal Tula's best moments came when they bypassed the press with a long diagonal and turned the game into a foot race. Their goal came from exactly that kind of scenario — a set piece won after a direct ball forward. Defensively, though, they sat too deep after conceding and allowed CSKA to camp on the edge of the area, which is rarely a sustainable plan against a side of this quality.

Standout Performers

The CSKA captain dictated the tempo from the base of midfield, completing the vast majority of his passes and repeatedly switching play to isolate the full-backs one-on-one. The young winger on the right was arguably the game's most dangerous player, involved in two of the three goals. For Tula, the goalkeeper kept the scoreline respectable with three important saves, and their central defender won the majority of his aerial duels despite the pressure his side absorbed.

What the Result Means

Friendly results carry no points, but this was a useful exercise for both clubs. CSKA got minutes into returning players, tested a couple of younger squad members and confirmed that their pressing structure is functioning ahead of the resumption of league play. Arsenal Tula leave with a clear picture of what needs work: defending crosses into the box and managing transitions after losing the ball in midfield.

Both sides now turn their attention back to domestic commitments, with CSKA keen to carry this attacking rhythm into their next competitive fixture and Tula focused on tightening a back line that has conceded too regularly in recent outings.