Dublin sees Arsenal fall to Real Betis in friendly defeat

By Megan Sinclair — 5 August 2026 — 4 min read

Arsenal’s Pre-Season Setback

Arsenal experienced a 3-1 defeat against Real Betis in a pre-season friendly held in Dublin. The match saw the Gunners concede three goals in the first half, a performance described by manager Mikel Arteta as uncharacteristically sloppy defensively. Despite having less possession, the Spanish side created more threatening opportunities and registered more shots on target than Arteta’s squad.

The defeat left the Arsenal players upset, with Arteta noting their frustration. He stated that the team was “fuming,” but viewed this as a positive, hoping it would ignite a stronger drive for improvement. The manager highlighted the contrast between the two halves of the game, particularly concerning the personnel utilized.

Arteta had named a starting XI similar to the one that secured a 4-1 victory against Girona in Spain the previous week. This lineup included four international defenders, along with Ethan Nwaneri, Kai Havertz, summer signing Christos Tzolis, and Max Dowman in midfield, with Viktor Gyokeres leading the attack.

Match Incidents and Player Performances

Arsenal initially controlled possession, and Gyokeres had an early chance to score but was denied by Alvaro Valles. However, Real Betis took the lead in the ninth minute from a corner. Second-choice goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga misjudged the set-piece from Pablo Fornals, allowing an unmarked Rodrigo Riquelme to score at the back post.

Myles Lewis-Skelly, who had a strong end to the previous season, played at the base of the Arsenal midfield and was noted as one of the team’s better performers. He also covered for left-back Riccardo Calafiori during his attacking runs. Tzolis, who scored against Girona, had an opportunity to equalize after intercepting a pass from Valles but sent the ball wide.

Real Betis, managed by former Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini, extended their lead through Nelson Deossa’s 26th-minute strike from approximately 25 yards after a clearance from Kepa. Piero Hincapie briefly reduced the deficit in the 32nd minute, heading in a corner from Tzolis. However, Fornals scored Real Betis’ third goal in the 43rd minute, capitalizing on a misplaced pass by Havertz near the Arsenal box.

At half-time, Arteta made seven changes, introducing Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Magalhaes for their first pre-season minutes after their participation in the World Cup with Brazil. Among the other changes were 16-year-old defender Marli Salmon and 19-year-old midfielder Louie Copley. Unfortunately, Copley was withdrawn just seven minutes after coming on due to a knee injury sustained after an awkward landing while chasing the ball.

Squad Availability and Manager’s Outlook

Several key players were unavailable for Arsenal, including Declan Rice, Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke, and Bukayo Saka, who had not yet rejoined the squad following their World Cup campaign with England. Spain’s World Cup winners Mikel Merino, David Raya, and Martin Zubimendi were also absent. Captain Martin Odegaard, who played for Norway in the tournament, has resumed individual training.

Arteta acknowledged the impact of using 25 players in the friendly, emphasizing the need to consider the context of the game. He expressed that while the team had moments of good play, their competitive standards, particularly in and around their own box, were not sufficient against a strong opponent. He also noted that giving away sloppy goals in a friendly is preferable to an official match, stating it helps create “more fire in the belly.”

The manager remained optimistic about the upcoming season, stating that the team aims to attack every possible title and create a dynasty at the club. He indicated that the market remains open for recruitment to further strengthen the squad. The match officials for the friendly included referee Robert Hennessy, assistant referees Dermot Broughton and Emmet Dynan, and fourth official Aaron O’Dowd.

Real Betis, who will compete in the Champions League this season for the first time in 20 years, have had a busy pre-season schedule. They have already played five matches, conceding only one goal in a defeat to Granada, and have secured victories against Lotte, Recreativo de Huelva, Lyon, and Almería. Their squad for the match against Arsenal included familiar faces such as Isco, Antony, and former Gunner Hector Bellerín.

The match statistics showed Real Betis with 10 shots to Arsenal’s 9, and 7 shots on target compared to Arsenal’s 2. Arsenal maintained 91.7% pass accuracy, while Real Betis had 88.1%. The game took place at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Wednesday, August 5.

Source: bbc.com