Mikel Arteta admitted that his players left the pitch in a state of fury after Arsenal delivered a lack‑luster display and were beaten 3-1 by LaLiga outfit Real Betis in a pre‑season match staged in Dublin. The Gunners fell behind early when Betis goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga mis‑handled a corner, allowing Rodrigo Riquelme to tap the ball home from the back post. The visitors then doubled their advantage when Nelson Deossa unleashed a spectacular strike from distance that left the Arsenal defence scrambling.
Arsenal managed to pull one back when a freshly signed forward, Christos Tzolis, swung an inswinging corner that Piero Hincapie met with a header, sending the ball over the line. However, the joy was short‑lived as Betis restored a two‑goal cushion when Pablo Fornals took advantage of a misplaced pass from Kai Havertz, slotting the ball into the bottom corner with composure. The line‑up that started the encounter featured Kepa, White, Mosquera, Hincapie, 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 minutes of the pre‑season campaign.
Despite the fresh legs, Arsenal – still missing key figures such as Declan Rice, Martin Ødegaard and several World Cup veterans – were unable to 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 manager’s candid comment underscored the frustration that lingered among the squad, but also hinted at a belief that the disappointment could serve as a catalyst for improvement. The loss marked Arsenal’s first setback of the summer schedule and arrived at a time when the club is actively pursuing new talent.
A £75 million deal with Newcastle for Brazilian midfielder Bruno Guimarães has already been agreed, a signing that Arteta hopes will plug the gaps exposed in Dublin. The midfield trio of Myles Lewis‑Skelly, Ethan Nwaneri and Kai Havertz – who had impressed in a recent victory over Girona – were given another chance, yet they struggled to match the intensity and defensive solidity of seasoned campaigners like Rice, Martin Zubimendi or the soon‑to‑arrive Guimarães. Lewis‑Skelly did have moments of promise, completing 70 of his 74 attempted passes and showing composure on the ball in the No 6 role.
However, his defensive contributions fell short of the standards set by Arsenal’s regular midfield engine. The performance highlighted why the Gunners have been so eager to secure Guimarães, whose arrival is expected to add elite quality and depth to a midfield that currently appears thin when rotating players after the World Cup. While pre‑season results are rarely a reliable indicator of season‑long form, the uncharacteristic openness displayed by Arsenal raises several tactical questions for Arteta as the Premier League champions prepare to defend their title. The match served primarily as a fitness exercise, yet the defensive lapses – conceding a sloppy corner goal and two additional giveaways in dangerous areas – will undoubtedly give the coaching staff plenty of material to analyse.
Arteta later spoke to Premier Sports, reflecting on the game: "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 manager’s remarks underline a pragmatic approach: using the defeat as a learning tool rather than a cause for panic.
Arsenal’s coaching staff will now focus on tightening defensive organization, improving transition speed, and integrating new signings ahead of the competitive season. With a long list of players still to return from international duty, the squad will have ample opportunity to gel and refine the patterns that have brought them success in recent years.
Fans can stay updated on the latest developments by following Sky Sports on WhatsApp, which provides news, video highlights, analysis and more. As the Gunners continue to chase additional targets in the transfer market and prepare for the rigours of a title defence, the Dublin friendly will be remembered as a humbling reminder that even champions must constantly evolve and address weaknesses before the new campaign kicks off.