Mikel Arteta disclosed that his Arsenal players were left "fuming" after a lack‑luster display that saw them succumb 3-1 to Spanish LaLiga side Real Betis in a pre‑season exhibition held in Dublin. The Gunners were caught off‑guard early when Betis goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga failed to secure a corner, allowing Rodrigo Riquelme to pounce and finish from 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 forward, Christos Tzolis, delivered an inswinging corner that was met with a glancing header from Piero Hincapié, nudging the ball over the line. However, Betis quickly restored a two‑goal cushion when Pablo Fornals, capitalising on a mis‑placed pass from Kai Havertz, slipped the ball into the bottom corner of the net. The line‑up that took to the pitch featured Kepa, White, Mosquera, Hincapié, Calafiori, Lewis‑Skelly, Havertz, Nwaneri, Dowman, Gyokeres and Tzolis.
Substitutions saw Copley, Salmon, Gabriel, Vieira, Nelson, Jesus, Martinelli, Julienne, Meslier, Ibrahim, Ogunnaike, Clarke, Kabia and O'Neill all make appearances as Arteta tried to tweak his side in the second half. Brazil internationals Gabriel and Gabriel Martinelli were handed their first pre‑season minutes, but even with those fresh legs Arsenal, still missing the likes of Declan Rice, Martin Ødegaard and several other World Cup‑returning stars, could not overturn the deficit. 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 marks Arsenal's first stumble of the pre‑season campaign and arrives at a time when the club is actively pursuing new signings. A £75 million agreement with Newcastle for midfielder Bruno Guimarães has already been reached, underscoring the urgency to reinforce a midfield that struggled to match the intensity of a seasoned Betis side. Arteta also revisited his midfield options, giving another chance to the young trio of Myles Lewis‑Skelly, Ethan Nwaneri and Kai Havertz after a previous victory over Girona. This time, the trio found the task considerably tougher.
Lewis‑Skelly displayed moments of promise at the No 6 role, completing 70 of his 74 attempted passes, yet he could not replicate the defensive coverage provided by seasoned campaigners such as Rice, Martin Zubimendi or the soon‑to‑arrive Guimarães. His passing accuracy and composure were encouraging, but the physical demands of shielding the back line exposed a gap that the new signing is expected to fill. The midfield shortcomings highlighted in Dublin illustrate why Arsenal have pursued Guimarães so aggressively.
The Portuguese midfielder brings elite‑level experience, a strong defensive mindset and the ability to dictate tempo, attributes that will add depth and quality to a unit currently stretched by injuries and international duty. His arrival is anticipated to give Arteta a more balanced engine room, capable of both protecting the defence and supporting the attack.
While pre‑season results are rarely decisive, the uncharacteristic openness shown by Arsenal raises important questions for the defending Premier League champions. Arteta reflected on the match 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." 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 candid assessment underscores Arteta's belief that a pre‑season loss can serve as a catalyst for improvement, igniting a competitive edge before the league campaign begins. The coaching staff will likely analyse the defensive lapses, the midfield's inability to shield the back four, and the overall lack of cohesion that allowed Betis to exploit gaps.
Looking ahead, Arsenal must integrate the incoming Guimarães, recover injured key players, and continue to fine‑tune the tactical framework that saw them lift the Premier League trophy last season. The Dublin friendly, though a setback, provides a useful diagnostic tool for the manager and his squad.
It highlights areas that need reinforcement, offers a glimpse of the potential impact of new signings, and reminds the players that complacency has no place in a title‑defending side. As the summer window remains open, further acquisitions could be on the horizon, with the club reportedly monitoring several other midfield options to complement Guimarães. Meanwhile, the young talents who featured – Lewis‑Skelly, Nwaneri and Havertz – will be expected to learn from the experience, improve their defensive discipline, and contribute to a more resilient midfield unit. In summary, Arsenal's 3-1 defeat to Real Betis in Dublin was a sobering reminder that even champions must earn every point, whether in a friendly or a league match.
The players left the pitch visibly upset, but Arteta sees the frustration as a constructive force that will drive the squad to higher standards as they prepare to defend their crown in the upcoming season.