Mikel Arteta admitted that his squad left the pitch in a state of frustration after a lack‑luster display saw Arsenal fall 3-1 to Spanish LaLiga side Real Betis in a pre‑season match held in Dublin. The Gunners’ performance was described as sloppy, and the manager said the players were "fuming" at the result, a reaction he believes could prove useful in sharpening their focus for the upcoming campaign. The opening goal came early when Betis goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga ventured forward and failed to claim a corner, allowing Rodrigo Riquelme to pounce on the loose ball and slot it home at the back post.
The visitors then doubled their lead when Nelson Deossa unleashed a spectacular strike from distance, catching the Arsenal defence off‑guard and sending the ball into the top corner. Arsenal managed to pull one back before the half‑time whistle when a well‑timed inswinging corner, taken by recent signing Christos Tzolis, found the head of Piero Hincapié, who directed the ball over the line.
However, Betis quickly restored their two‑goal advantage when Pablo Fornals capitalised on a mis‑directed pass from Kai Havertz, finding the bottom corner with composure. The starting eleven for Arsenal featured Kepa, White, Mosquera, Hincapié, Calafiori, Lewis‑Skelly, Havertz, Nwaneri, Dowman, Gyokeres and Tzolis. Substitutes who saw action included Copley, Salmon, Gabriel, Vieira, Nelson, Jesus, Martinelli, Julienne, Meslier, Ibrahim, Ogunnaike, Clarke, Kabia and O'Neill. In the second half Arteta introduced the Brazil internationals Gabriel and Gabriel Martinelli, giving them their first pre‑season minutes, but the team, still missing key figures such as Declan Rice, Martin Ødegaard and others who were involved in the World Cup, could not overturn the deficit.
When questioned about the atmosphere in the dressing room following the defeat, Arteta said: "Very upset, given a hard time. They are fuming, but this is good. That's what we need." He stressed that the disappointment was a constructive sign that the players care deeply about standards and results. The loss marked Arsenal's first setback of the pre‑season schedule and arrived at a time when the club is actively pursuing new talent in the transfer market.
A £75 million agreement with Newcastle United for midfielder Bruno Guimarães has already been reached, a deal that underscores the urgency of bolstering a midfield that struggled to dominate in Dublin. Arteta also gave another opportunity to the youthful midfield trio of Myles Lewis‑Skelly, Ethan Nwaneri and Kai Havertz, who had impressed in a previous friendly against Girona. This time, however, they found the task more demanding.
Lewis‑Skelly, playing at the No 6 role, displayed moments of technical proficiency, completing 70 of his 74 attempted passes. Yet, his defensive contributions fell short of the levels provided by seasoned midfielders such as Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi, or the incoming Guimarães. The contrast highlighted why Arsenal have been so aggressive in securing Guimarães, whose experience and quality are expected to add depth and stability to a midfield that currently lacks a true anchor. Despite the disappointing result, Arteta reminded everyone that pre‑season outcomes carry limited weight.
The primary objective of these fixtures is to build fitness, integrate new signings, and experiment with tactical variations. Nonetheless, the team's uncharacteristic openness at the back gave the manager plenty of material to analyse.
He noted that the first half showcased periods of good ball retention and attacking intent, but the defensive lapses—particularly around set‑pieces and in the final third—were not up to the standards required to win matches against competent opposition. In his post‑match interview with Premier Sports, Arteta elaborated on the lessons learned: "Always upset when you lose a football match. Two very different halves, especially with the personnel we played today.
The first half, we wanted two different things – play well and compete well. We did the first one quite well in a lot of moments.
But the compete part, especially in and around our box, was not at our standards to win a football match against a good side. We have to have dominance.
The first goal, the action from the corner, we concede a sloppy goal. Then we gave two giveaways very close to our box as well. They were very efficient, two very good goals as well from their side.
It's always good when you lose a match in pre‑season; it creates a bit more fire in the belly. It's better to give those goals away in a friendly match than an official match. It's a balance between understanding where we are and the personnel we are playing – and the demands that are at the highest level." Looking ahead, Arsenal will use the insights gained from this encounter to fine‑tune their defensive organization, especially in dealing with set‑pieces and quick transitions. The addition of Bruno Guimarães is expected to provide a more robust shield in front of the back line, while the continued development of younger players like Lewis‑Skelly and Nwaneri will be crucial for depth.
As the Premier League champions prepare to defend their title, the coaching staff will aim to translate the hard lessons from Dublin into sharper performances once the competitive season begins.