Track Record. Alenichev Remembers The Ad

In our new section ‘Track Record’ we remember noteworthy episodes that occurred in the history of the rivalry between Lokomotiv and their current opponents.

The section is authored by Dmitriy Kolotvin who says Lokomotiv and Arsenal have had a pretty short record so far, just two games. In 1993 the two teams played in a 1/16 leg of the Russian Cup. The club from Tula represented the Second Division then. The Railwaymen won 2:1. The interesting detail is that Dmitriy Alenichev, who is now Arsenal’s head coach, took part in that game. On 30 minutes he substituted another Railwayman Yuriy Baturenko. So Mr Alenichev knows the ad Lokomotiv - Arsenal.

Twenty-one years later Lokomotiv and Arsenal played in Tula, this time in the Russian Premier League. The visitors won again 2:0.

Russian Cup 1/16 Leg, 1993/94

Arsenal (Tula) - Lokomotiv (Moscow) 1:2 (1:1)
Goals: A.Smirnov, 10 - 0:1, Kurakov, 30 - 1:1, Mukhamadiev, 46 - 1:2.

Arsenal: Zarin, Filimonov, Cheryevskiy, Stroganov, Tsepelin, Trushkin, Semyonov (Smetankin, 59), Kurakov (S.Moiseyev, 56), Telesh (Yeroschenkov, 66), Abramov, Rusakov.
Lokomotiv: Ovchinnikov, Arifullin (Fuzaylov, 78), Samatov, Podpaliy, Gorkov, Baturenko (Alenichev, 30), Kosolapov, Nikulkin (Kiselyov, 60), Garin, A.Smirnov, Mukhamadiev.

Referee: Martynkin (Ryazan).
July 5, 1993. Tula. Central stadium. 9,000 spectators.

Excerpt from the book by Yevgeniy Ovsyannikov ‘A Story of the Real Arsenal’ (2013)

‘In 1993, the football lovers in Tula were excited about another top-flight team visiting their city to play in a 1/16 leg of the Russian Cup. Last time it was Torpedo, and now Yuriy Syomin brought his Lokomotiv to the gunners’ city. The fight was going to be hot, literally, - the game was scheduled for July 5th.

For the first time ever, a match that would be played at a Tula stadium would be aired live on a national TV channel!
The doubts about the strength of the squad Mr Syomin took with him disappeared when they all arrived to see the field about an hour before the kick-off. And you’d make no mistake trying to suppose their opinion about it: despite the ‘make-up’ (the stadium’s staff renewed the marking), the turf’s quality was far from good.

Arsenal looked solid and couldn’t be blamed for the defeat. In the first half, the teams exchanged goals. Lokomotiv’s Alexander Smirnov scored an opener, but the hosts’ Kurakov leveled. By the way, it was his fifth goal in that Cup that set Arsenal’s record which is still valid - no other player in Tula has managed to score as many goals in a Cup competition so far.
But immediately after the restart, Mukhsin Muhamadiev scored a winner receiving a pass from an acute angle.
After the game, Yuriy Syomin praised the Gunners for the effective style of play, pointing out Stroganov, Moiseyev, and Abramov.

Russian Premier League 2014/15, Gameweek 2

Arsenal (Tula) - Lokomotiv (Moscow) - 0:2 (0:0)
Goals: Fernandes, 53 - 0:1, Ndoye, 83 - 0:2.

Arsenal: Filimonov, Osipov, Kaleshin (Smirnov, 78), Vasilyev, Lepskiy, Kascelan, Lyakh, Ryzhkov (Kuznetsov, 62), Ignatyev, Maloyan, Kutyin (Votinov, 58).
Lokomotiv: Guilherme, Corluka, Yanbaev, Durica, Denisov, Samedov, Shishkin, Taasov, Fernandes (Niasse, 64), Maicon (Kasaev, 87), Pavlyuchenko (Ndoye, 58).

Referees: Sergey Ivanov (Rostov-on-Don),Mikhail Yerovenko, Aleksey Stipidi (both from Krasnodar).
Yellow cards: Durica (36), Kaleshin (39), Corluka (42), Lyakh (57).
10 August, 2014. Tula. Tsentralniy stadium. 17 000 spectators.

That Gameweek 2 match in Tula will be remembered by the hot weather, Arsenal's stadium fantastic atmosphere, an impressive amount of Lokomotiv supporters from Moscow, and of course a spectacular goal by Fernandes.
The hosts had several scoring opportunities in the first half but Lokomotiv's defence was solid. In the second half, the Railwaymen put their higher class into goals.

Read the full article in the ‘Our Loko’ magazine that will be on sale in the club shop and at the distributors’ on the stadium’s territory. You will also find:

• Alexey Miranchuk’s interview about football and more. Learn how to keep harmony with the twin brother and make it to the 2018 national team together.
• Alan Kasaev’s dream-team with nine terrestrials and two extraterrestrials on it.
• Advice from Roman Pavlyuchenko: why you should watch and not read ‘50 Shades of Gray’
• Our youth: Alexander Smirnov promises he will ‘tear’ for Loko.
• All out! Why a Loko fan will find it useful to visit Saransk.
• Our new section ‘Family Area’ - find out how to bring your child to a football game and make them love ‘Lokomotiv’
...And many other interesting things!