Mikel Arteta admitted that his Arsenal side left the pitch feeling furious after a lack‑luster display that saw them beaten 3-1 by Spanish LaLiga outfit Real Betis in a pre‑season match held in Dublin. The Gunners’ performance was described by the manager as sloppy, and the disappointment was evident in the dressing‑room afterwards. The opening goal came early when Betis goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga failed to claim a corner, allowing Rodrigo Riquelme to tap the ball in at the back post.
The visitors then doubled their lead when Nelson Deossa unleashed a spectacular strike from distance that left the Arsenal defence scrambling. Arsenal managed to pull one back when a newly signed forward, Christos Tzolis, whistled in an inswinging corner that was met with a powerful header from Piero Hincapié. However, the joy was short‑lived; a misplaced pass by Kai Havertz was intercepted and Pablo Fornals finished cleanly into the bottom corner, restoring Betis’s two‑goal cushion.
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 Brazilian internationals Gabriel and Gabriel Martinelli, giving them their first pre‑season minutes, but the Gunners, still missing key figures such as Declan Rice, Martin Ødegaard and several World Cup veterans, could not overturn the deficit. When questioned about the atmosphere in the locker room, Arteta said: "Very upset, given a hard time.
They are fuming, but this is good. That's what we need." He highlighted that the frustration could serve as a catalyst for improvement as the team prepares for the upcoming campaign. The loss marks Arsenal’s first defeat of the pre‑season schedule and arrives at a time when the club is actively pursuing new talent. A £75 million agreement has been reached with Newcastle United for midfielder Bruno Guimarães, a signing that Arteta believes will address the midfield frailties exposed in Dublin.
Arsenal’s midfield options remain thin after the World Cup, with several players still on holiday or recovering from injuries. Arteta gave another opportunity to the young trio of Myles Lewis‑Skelly, Ethan Nwaneri and Kai Havertz, who had performed well in the previous friendly against Girona. This time, however, they struggled to match the intensity required against a well‑organised Betis side.
Lewis‑Skelly showed flashes of promise, completing 70 of his 74 attempted passes and demonstrating composure on the ball at the No 6 position. Yet, his defensive contributions did not reach the level of established midfielders such as Rice, Martin Zubimendi or the soon‑to‑arrive Guimarães. The lack of defensive cover in the middle of the park was a clear issue, reinforcing why Arsenal have moved aggressively for Guimarães, whose arrival is expected to add elite quality and much‑needed depth.
Despite the heavy emphasis on fitness in pre‑season, the uncharacteristic openness displayed by Arsenal provides Arteta with valuable insights. The team’s inability to protect the box, the sloppy corner concession and the two giveaways close to their own goal highlighted areas that require immediate attention as the Premier League champions aim to defend their title. Arteta’s comments to Premier Sports summed up the sentiment: "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 lessons learned from the Dublin defeat to fine‑tune their tactics, improve defensive organization and integrate new signings. The focus will remain on building match fitness while ensuring the squad develops the resilience and cohesion needed to compete on multiple fronts.
The upcoming fixtures will provide further opportunities to test the revamped midfield, assess the impact of Guimarães once he arrives, and restore confidence ahead of the Premier League season, where Arsenal will look to retain the crown they claimed last term.