Mikel Arteta disclosed that his players were left "fuming" after Arsenal delivered a lack‑luster display and fell 3-1 to LaLiga outfit Real Betíis in a pre‑season friendly staged in Dublin. The Gunners got off to a shaky start when Betíis goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga failed to secure a corner, allowing Rodrigo Riquelme to tap the ball home at the back post. Shortly after, Nelson Deossa produced a spectacular long‑range strike that doubled Betíis' advantage. Arsenal managed to pull one back when a newly‑signed forward, Christos Tzolis, swung an inswinging corner that was met with a powerful header from Piero Hincapié, sending the ball across the line.
However, the Spanish side quickly restored their two‑goal lead when Pablo Fornals slipped a low, curling effort into the bottom corner after a wayward pass from Kai Havertz left the defense exposed. 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 even with those fresh legs the team could not overturn the deficit. Arsenal were still missing key figures such as Declan Rice, Martin Ødegaard and several others who were still recuperating from the World Cup.
When pressed about the atmosphere in the dressing room after the defeat, Arteta said, "Very upset, given a hard time. They are fuming, but this is good.
That's what we need." The loss, which marked Arsenal's first setback of the pre‑season campaign, arrives as the club continues to chase new signings in the transfer market, having already agreed a £75 million fee with Newcastle United for midfielder Bruno Guimarães. With a long list of players still to return from international duty, Arteta gave another opportunity to the midfield trio of Myles Lewis‑Skelly, Ethan Nwaneri and Kai Havertz, who had performed admirably in the previous victory over Girona. This time, however, they found themselves out‑matched.
Lewis‑Skelly displayed moments of confidence in the number six role, completing 70 of his 74 attempted passes, but he could not replicate the defensive solidity offered by the likes of Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi or the soon‑to‑arrive Guimarães. His passing accuracy was impressive, yet the physical and tactical demands of a Premier League midfield exposed a gap that Arsenal are eager to fill. Lewis‑Skelly is still expected to feature prominently for Arsenal this season, but the Dublin encounter highlighted why the club have pursued Guimarães with such urgency. The Brazilian midfielder would bring elite‑level quality and provide the depth that Arsenal's current midfield lacks, especially when the squad rotates to cope with the rigors of a title defence.
It is worth noting that pre‑season results carry limited weight in the grand scheme; the primary goal of these fixtures is to build fitness and integrate new players. Nevertheless, Arsenal's uncharacteristic defensive frailties gave Arteta plenty of food for thought as the Premier League champions prepare to defend their crown. The manager reflected on the match, telling Premier Sports, "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." He continued, "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." The defeat also serves as a reminder that Arsenal's midfield, still missing the leadership of Rice and Ødegaard, needs reinforcement to cope with the dual demands of domestic and European competitions. The upcoming transfer window will be crucial, and the agreed fee for Guimarães signals the club's intent to shore up that area promptly. Beyond the tactical analysis, the match offered fans a glimpse of several young talents.
Ethan Nwaneri, still a teenager, earned valuable minutes against a seasoned LaLiga side, while Christos Tzolis, who arrived from the Greek league, showed his aerial prowess with the goal‑mouth header. These experiences, though costly on the scoreboard, are invaluable for player development and squad cohesion.
In summary, the Dublin friendly exposed defensive lapses, highlighted midfield deficiencies, and underscored the urgency of completing the summer recruitment. While Arsenal can take solace in the fact that the loss came in a low‑stakes environment, the manager's candid remarks and the players' visible frustration suggest that the team will return to training with a renewed focus on tightening up at the back, improving transitional play, and ensuring that the new signings integrate seamlessly.
The upcoming weeks will be decisive as Arteta fine‑tunes his squad ahead of the Premier League season, where the expectation to retain the title will demand both consistency and resilience.