Arsenal’s preparations for the 2026/27 season suffered a setback on Wednesday as Mikel Arteta’s side lost 3-1 to Spanish club Real Betis in a pre-season friendly at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
The match, which was delayed by 15 minutes after Real Betis encountered traffic on their way to the stadium, saw the La Liga side take control early and capitalize on defensive lapses by the Gunners.
Real Betis raced into a two-goal lead through Rodrigo Riquelme and Nelson Deossa before Arsenal responded when defender Piero Hincapié pulled one back. However, Pablo Fornals restored Betis’ two-goal advantage to seal a deserved 3-1 victory for Manuel Pellegrini’s side.
Arteta used the encounter to assess several players as Arsenal continued preparations for the new campaign. Despite flashes of promise from some of the club’s younger talents, the Premier League side struggled defensively and failed to impose themselves for long periods against a well-organised Betis outfit.
The defeat came after Arsenal opened their pre-season schedule with a convincing victory over Girona and serves as another opportunity for Arteta to evaluate his squad before competitive football resumes. The manager is expected to continue rotating players and refining tactics ahead of the Community Shield against Manchester City and the start of the Premier League season later this month.
Real Betis, meanwhile, produced an impressive display, combining disciplined defending with clinical finishing to secure a confidence-boosting win as they continue their own preparations for the new La Liga campaign.
Arsenal will return to action in the Emirates Cup, where they are scheduled to face Borussia Dortmund before opening their competitive season against Manchester City in the Community Shield.
