Arsenal defeated by Real Betis in pre-season friendly
Arsenal suffered a 3-1 defeat against Real Betis in a pre-season friendly held in Dublin. The match saw Real Betis score three goals in the first half, with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta expressing disappointment over his team’s performance, particularly their defensive display.
The Gunners conceded three goals before halftime, a period described by Arteta as uncharacteristically sloppy. Despite having less possession, the Spanish side created more threatening opportunities and registered more shots on target compared to Arsenal. Arteta noted that the mood in the dressing room after the first-half display was one of frustration, stating that the players were “fuming.” He added that this reaction was positive and necessary for improvement.
Several key players were unavailable for Arsenal, including Declan Rice, Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke, and Bukayo Saka, who had not yet rejoined the squad following their World Cup campaign with England. Additionally, Spain’s World Cup winners Mikel Merino, David Raya, and Martin Zubimendi were also absent. Captain Martin Odegaard, who played for Norway in the tournament, had resumed individual training.
Despite these absences, Arsenal’s starting lineup featured four international defenders, along with Ethan Nwaneri, Kai Havertz, summer signing Christos Tzolis, and Max Dowman in midfield. Viktor Gyokeres led the attack. Arteta had named the same side that previously defeated Girona 4-1 in Spain, but the team made defensive errors and lacked attacking spark against Real Betis.
Match Details and Key Moments
Arsenal initially controlled possession, and Gyokeres had an early chance to score but was denied by Alvaro Valles. However, Real Betis took the lead in the ninth minute from a corner. Kepa Arrizabalaga misjudged the flight of a set-piece from Pablo Fornals, allowing an unmarked Rodrigo Riquelme to score at the back post.
Myles Lewis-Skelly, who played at the base of Arsenal’s midfield, was noted as one of the team’s better performers. He also covered for Riccardo Calafiori when the Italian defender made attacking runs. Christos Tzolis, who scored against Girona, had an opportunity to equalize after intercepting a loose pass from Valles but sent the ball wide.
Real Betis, managed by former Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini, extended their lead with two more goals. Nelson Deossa scored in the 26th minute with a strike from approximately 25 yards following a clearance by Kepa. Piero Hincapie scored for Arsenal in the 32nd minute, heading in a corner from Tzolis after Valles failed to handle the set-piece. However, Fornals added a third for Real Betis in the 43rd minute, rolling the ball into the corner past Kepa after Havertz misplaced a pass.
Arteta made seven changes at halftime, which included the first pre-season minutes for Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Magalhaes, who returned to club action after representing Brazil at the World Cup. Among the substitutions were 16-year-old defender Marli Salmon and 19-year-old midfielder Louie Copley. However, Copley was withdrawn just seven minutes after coming on due to a knee injury sustained after landing awkwardly while chasing a ball. Theo Julienne replaced him. Other youngsters who featured included Max Dowman, Josh Ogunnaike, Ife Ibrahim, Brayden Clarke, Ceadach O’Neill, and Ismeal Kabia.
Aftermath and Future Fixtures
The numerous substitutions in the second half disrupted the game’s flow. Despite an effort from Gabriel Jesus that went close, Arsenal did not manage to reduce the deficit further. Arteta expressed his hope that the defeat would motivate the team to improve, stating that a bad result can sometimes create more determination. He also provided context, mentioning that 25 players were used during the match.
The team’s attention will now shift to their upcoming Emirates Cup game against Borussia Dortmund on Saturday. Academy players could still be involved in that fixture.
Source: bbc.com
