Mikel Arteta disclosed that his players left the pitch feeling "incensed" after Arsenal delivered a lack‑luster display and fell 3-1 to LaLiga outfit Real Betis in a pre‑season encounter staged in Dublin. The Gunners were caught off guard early when Betis goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga stepped out of his line and failed to claim a corner, allowing Rodrigo Riquelme to pounce on the loose ball and tap it home at the back post. The visitors doubled their advantage when Nelson Deossa struck a spectacular long‑range effort that left the Arsenal defence scrambling. Arsenal managed to pull one back before the interval when a newly signed forward, Christos Tzolis, swung an inswinging corner that Piero Hincapié met with a glancing header, sending the ball over the line.
However, the Spanish side restored a two‑goal cushion shortly after the restart when Pablo Fornals seized on a wayward pass from Kai Havertz, slotting the ball into the bottom corner with composure. The starting eleven for Arsenal consisted of Kepa, White, Mosquera, Hincapié, Calafiori, Lewis‑Skelly, Havertz, Nwaneri, Dowman, Gyokeres and Tzolis, with a host of substitutes featuring later in the game, including 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, granting them their first pre‑season minutes, but the Gunners, still missing key figures such as Declan Rice, Martin Ødegaard and several World Cup participants, could not overturn the deficit. When questioned about the atmosphere in the dressing room after the defeat, Arteta answered candidly: "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 pre‑season schedule, arrives as the club continues to hunt for reinforcements 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 recuperating from the World Cup, Arteta gave another opportunity to the midfield trio of Myles Lewis‑Skelly, Ethan Nwaneri and Kai Havertz, who had impressed in the previous friendly against Girona. This time, however, they found the task considerably tougher.
Lewis‑Skelly displayed moments of promise in the No 6 role, completing 70 of his 74 attempted passes, but he could not replicate the defensive solidity offered by former stalwarts such as Rice, Martin Zubimendi or the soon‑to‑arrive Guimarães. His passing accuracy was commendable, yet the physical and tactical demands of a Premier League midfield exposed gaps that the new signing is expected to fill.
The performance underscored why Arsenal have pursued Guimarães with such urgency; his arrival promises elite quality and depth that the current midfield lacks. While pre‑season results are often viewed as inconsequential, the uncharacteristic openness shown by the Gunners provides Arteta with valuable insights as they prepare to defend their Premier League crown.
The Dublin friendly was primarily a fitness‑building exercise, yet the defensive lapses and lack of cohesion highlighted areas that require immediate attention. Arteta later addressed Premier Sports, reflecting on the defeat: "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." The loss also serves as a reminder of the squad's depth issues, particularly in central midfield, where the absence of Rice and the pending arrival of Guimarães leave a noticeable void. Lewis‑Skelly's performance, while technically sound, highlighted the physicality and positional awareness required at the top level.
Meanwhile, Havertz, still adapting to the Premier League after his move from Chelsea, struggled to impose himself in the middle third, and Nwaneri, the teenage prodigy, showed flashes of brilliance but lacked the experience to dictate play consistently. Arsenal's management will likely use this friendly as a diagnostic tool, assessing which players can step up when first‑choice options are unavailable. The coaching staff may also experiment with different formations and partnerships, seeking a balance between youthful exuberance and seasoned reliability.
As the transfer window remains open, the club's pursuit of Guimarães appears increasingly justified, offering a blend of defensive tenacity and ball‑carrying ability that could elevate Arsenal's midfield dynamics. In summary, while the 3-1 defeat to Real Betis may not affect any trophies, it has provided Arteta with a clear picture of the squad's current shortcomings. The players' admitted frustration could serve as a catalyst for improvement, and the upcoming weeks will be crucial for fine‑tuning tactics, integrating new signings, and restoring the confidence that propelled Arsenal to the Premier League title last season.