Arsenal 1 – 3 Real Betis – Match Report & Highlights
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Report as Arsenal are beaten in their third game of pre-season at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium; Kepa Arrizabalaga’s error allowed Real Betis to open the scoring on their way to a 3-1 win; Piero Hincapie scored from a Christos Tzolis corner but the Gunners struggled to create chances
Wednesday 5 August 2026 21:44, UK
Christos Tzolis reacts as Arsenal go two goals down against Real Betis
Arsenal produced a sloppy performance as they were beaten 3-1 by LaLiga side Real Betis in a pre-season friendly in Dublin.
The Gunners fell behind when Kepa Arrizabalaga came out and failed to claim a corner, allowing Rodrigo Riquelme to score at the back post. Nelson Deossa added a stunning second from long range.
Arsenal pulled one back when an inswinging corner from new signing Christos Tzolis was headed over the line by Piero Hincapie but Betis restored their two-goal lead when Pablo Fornals found the bottom corner following a misplaced pass by Kai Havertz.
Mikel Arteta made second-half changes with Brazil internationals Gabriel and Gabriel Martinelli given their first cameos of pre-season but Arsenal, still without Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard and others involved at the World Cup, were unable to cut the deficit.
The defeat, their first of pre-season, comes as Arsenal continue to push for new signings in the transfer market, with the club having agreed a £75m fee with Newcastle for Bruno Guimaraes.
The key moments from Dublin
- 9 – GOAL! Kepa Arrizabalaga fails to claim a corner, allowing the unmarked Rodrigo Riquelme to score at the far post
- 26 – GOAL! Nelson Deossa adds Real Betis’s stunning second goal with a powerful long-range effort
- 32 – GOAL! Christos Tzolis’s inswinging corner loops over the Real Betis goalkeeper and is headed in by Piero Hincapie
- 43 – GOAL! Pablo Fornals fires home a third goal for Real Betis following a misplaced pass by Kai Havertz
- 46 – SUBS! Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta makes seven half-time changes, with returning Brazilians Gabriel and Gabriel Martinelli among those introduced
- 55 – INJURY! Arsenal youngster Louie Copley is forced off with a serious-looking knee injury
- 64 – SAVE! Real Betis cut through Arsenal but Illan Meslier saves Isco’s close-range flick
- 67 – SHOT! Martinelli tees up fellow substitute Gabriel Jesus, who fires wide
Arsenal’s pre-season so far
- July 25: Arsenal 3-0 MK Dons – Arsenal training ground
- August 1: Girona 1-4 Arsenal – Girona
- August 5: Arsenal 1-3 Real Betis – Dublin
- August 9: Arsenal vs Borussia Dortmund – Emirates Stadium, 2pm
- August 12: Arsenal vs Como – Emirates Stadium, 7.30pm
- August 16: Community Shield – Arsenal vs Man City, Cardiff, 3pm
