Mikel Arteta disclosed that his players were left "seething" after Arsenal delivered a lack‑luster display and fell 3-1 to Spanish LaLiga outfit Real Betis in a pre‑season friendly staged in Dublin. The Gunners were caught off guard early on when Betis goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga ventured out of his area and failed to secure a corner, allowing Rodrigo Riquelme to pounce on the loose ball and tap it home at the back post. The visitors then doubled their advantage when Nelson Deossa unleashed a spectacular long‑range strike that left the Arsenal defence scrambling.
Arsenal managed to pull one back before the break when a freshly signed winger, Christos Tzolis, whipped in an inswinging corner that was met with a powerful header from Piero Hincapié, restoring some belief to the crowd. However, the Spanish side quickly re‑established a two‑goal cushion when Pablo Fornals, after a wayward pass from Kai Havertz, found the bottom corner of the net with composure. The starting eleven for the London club featured Kepa, White, Mosquera, Hincapié, Calafiori, Lewis‑Skelly, Havertz, Nwaneri, Dowman, Gyokeres and Tzolis. Throughout the match a host of substitutes were introduced, including Copley, Salmon, Gabriel, Vieira, Nelson, Jesus, Martinelli, Julienne, Meslier, Ibrahim, Ogunnaike, Clarke, Kabia and O'Neill, as Arteta sought to rotate his squad and give minutes to younger prospects.
In the second half Arteta made a series of tactical tweaks, bringing on the Brazil internationals Gabriel and Gabriel Martinelli for their inaugural pre‑season appearances. Despite the fresh legs, Arsenal – still missing key figures such as Declan Rice, Martin Ødegaard and several other World Cup participants – were unable to overturn the deficit. When asked about the atmosphere in the dressing room following the defeat, Arteta admitted: "Very upset, given a hard time.
They are fuming, but this is good. That's what we need." The loss marked Arsenal's first setback of the summer campaign and arrived at a time when the club is actively pursuing new signings.
A £75 million agreement has already been reached with Newcastle United for the acquisition of midfielder Bruno Guimarães, a deal that underscores the urgency felt by the coaching staff to reinforce a midfield that struggled to match the intensity of Betis. Arsenal's midfield trio – Myles Lewis‑Skelly, Ethan Nwaneri and Kai Havertz – had previously impressed in a victory over Girona, but in Dublin they found themselves out‑muscled and out‑positioned. Lewis‑Skelly, operating in the No 6 role, displayed moments of technical brilliance, completing 70 out of 74 attempted passes, yet he could not replicate the defensive coverage offered by seasoned campaigners like Rice, Martin Zubimendi or the soon‑to‑arrive Guimarães.
His passing accuracy highlighted his potential, but the physical demands of a Premier League season will require him to develop greater stamina and positional awareness. The midfield shortcomings observed in Dublin provide a clear rationale for Arsenal's aggressive pursuit of Guimarães. The Brazilian midfielder is expected to bring elite quality, tactical versatility and a depth of experience that will elevate the overall balance of the team.
His arrival should alleviate the burden on the younger players and give Arteta a more reliable engine room to build around. It is important to remember that pre‑season results carry limited weight in the grand scheme of a campaign. These matches are primarily designed to build fitness, integrate new signings and test tactical variations.
Nevertheless, Arsenal's uncharacteristic openness at the back and the ease with which Betis capitalised on mistakes have given Arteta valuable insights. The friendly served as a reminder that the defending champions cannot afford complacency as they prepare to defend their Premier League title. In a post‑match interview with Premier Sports, Arteta reflected on the performance: "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 continue to fine‑tune their squad, monitor the progress of returning World Cup participants and integrate the new arrivals. The coaching staff will likely use the lessons from Dublin to reinforce defensive discipline, improve transitional play and ensure that the midfield possesses both creative spark and defensive resilience. Fans can expect a series of further friendlies before the season opener, each offering a chance to assess the evolving chemistry of the team and to gauge how quickly the new signings adapt to Arteta's philosophy.
While the defeat was disappointing, it also provided a catalyst for introspection and motivation. The players' admitted frustration could translate into heightened determination during training sessions, fostering a competitive edge that may prove decisive when the Premier League campaign commences.
Ultimately, the Dublin friendly serves as a useful diagnostic tool, highlighting areas that require attention and confirming the strategic direction of the club's transfer policy as Arsenal aims to retain its crown.