Mikel Arteta disclosed that his players were "fuming" following a lack‑luster showing that saw Arsenal succumb 3-1 to Spanish LaLiga side Real Betis in a pre‑season exhibition held in Dublin. The Gunners got off to a shaky start when Betis goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga failed to secure a corner, allowing Rodrigo Riquelme to tap the ball home from the back post.
The hosts then fell further behind when Nelson Deossa unleashed a spectacular long‑range strike that left the Arsenal defence scrambling. Arsenal managed to pull one back before the interval.
A freshly signed forward, Christos Tzolis, whistled in an inswinging corner that was met by Piero Hincapié, who rose above the crowd to head the ball into the net. The joy was short‑lived, however, as Betis restored a two‑goal advantage when Pablo Fornals seized on a misplaced pass from Kai Havertz and fired a precise shot into the bottom corner. The line‑up that took the field for the visitors 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 Brazilian duo Gabriel and Gabriel Martinelli, giving them their first pre‑season minutes. Despite the fresh legs, Arsenal – still missing key figures such as Declan Rice, Martin Ødegaard and several other World Cup participants – could not overturn the deficit. When pressed about the atmosphere in the dressing room after the defeat, Arteta replied: "Very upset, given a hard time. They are fuming, but this is good.
That's what we need." The loss, Arsenal's first of the summer schedule, arrives as the club continues to hunt for new talent. A £75 million agreement with Newcastle for midfielder Bruno Guimarães has already been reached, signalling the intent to bolster a midfield that struggled to match the intensity of a side like Betis. The Dublin match also offered a chance to reassess the midfield trio of Myles Lewis‑Skelly, Ethan Nwaneri and Kai Havertz, who had performed admirably in a recent win over Girona.
This time, however, they found themselves out‑muscled and out‑positioned. Lewis‑Skelly, playing at the number 6 role, displayed moments of brilliance – completing 70 of his 74 attempted passes – yet he could not replicate the defensive cover provided by seasoned campaigners such as Rice, Martin Zubimendi or the soon‑to‑arrive Guimarães.
His passing accuracy was impressive, but the physical demands of shielding the back line exposed a gap that the new signing is expected to fill. The performance highlighted why Arsenal have been so eager to secure Guimarães. The Brazilian midfielder brings elite‑level experience, tactical versatility and a proven track record of dominating the centre of the park. His arrival should add depth, allow Arteta to rotate his squad more effectively and provide a reliable defensive shield for the back four.
In the meantime, the club will continue to rely on the developing talents of Lewis‑Skelly and his fellow youngsters, but the Dublin fixture served as a stark reminder of the work still required to compete at the highest level. It is important to remember that pre‑season results carry limited weight in the grand scheme of a campaign.
The primary objective of these matches is to build fitness, integrate new players and test tactical ideas. Nonetheless, the uncharacteristic openness displayed by Arsenal against Betis offers Artetta a wealth of information.
The team’s defensive lapses, particularly the sloppy corner that led to the first goal, and the two near‑misses in their own box, will be dissected in training sessions. Arteta summed up his thoughts in a press briefing with Premier Sports, stating: "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." In summary, the 3‑1 defeat to Real Betis, while a setback on paper, may prove beneficial in the long run. It has ignited a sense of urgency among the squad, highlighted the need for midfield reinforcement, and provided Arteta with clear areas to address before the Premier League season kicks off.
With the transfer window still open and the arrival of Bruno Guimarães imminent, Arsenal appear poised to turn the lessons learned in Dublin into a stronger, more resilient unit ready to defend their title.