ARTETA’S 'DYNASTY' DREAM COLLIDES WITH ARSENAL’S HARSH REALITY
Arsenal 1 Real Betis 3
Mikel Arteta says he wants to create a “dynasty” at Arsenal as he threw down the gauntlet to his players to retain their Premier League title and reach a “different level”.
Arsenal are on the verge of completing a £75m deal for Brazil midfielder Bruno Guimãraes from Newcastle and have not given up hope of landing Real Madrid winger Vinícius Júnior, who has been offered an improved contract by the Spanish giants.
The Premier League champions slumped to a 3-1 defeat to Real Betis in Dublin on Wednesday night, when they paid the price for individual errors and a lethargic, sloppy defensive display.
But that did little to quell Arteta’s ambitions for the new season. “I’m even more excited [about this season], and we’re going to go and attack every possible title because that’s the ambition that we have,” he said.
“We know that we have the ability. We will go from a strength to a strength as well, whether it’s with the players that we have to take them to a different level, and with the market that is still open to recruit as well, so we are very optimistic about it.
“All the work that we’ve done – that I’ve done through the summer – is to understand what we need to do to win again and to create a dynasty in this football club. That’s the aim.”
Despite Arteta’s bullishness, he conceded Arsenal would have to be a lot better than they were against Betis. When asked about the mood in the dressing room, he said: “Very upset, given a hard time. They are fuming, but this is good. That’s what we need.”
Telegraph Sport analyses some of the talking points from a disappointing evening at the Aviva Stadium.
No Saliba a concern
The importance of goalkeeper David Raya and centre-backs William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães to Arsenal hardly needs overstating. Their title success was built on the foundations provided by that triumvirate at the back.
Raya has yet to report back from holiday after Spain’s World Cup triumph and Saliba is facing an extended spell on the sidelines with a back injury. Gabriel did appear for the second half but, watching this, Arteta is unlikely to have been dissuaded from the belief he needs another top defender to compensate for the loss of Saliba.
It may have been only Arsenal’s second game of pre-season, so a degree of legginess was understandable.
But the ease with which they were cut open and overloaded by the Spanish side, and the volume of individual errors, did not sit comfortably with Arteta with just over a fortnight until they kick off their title defence at home to newly promoted Coventry City.
Only once in 63 matches last season did Arsenal concede three goals in a single game but they were fortunate Betis did not score more. “In the first half there are two different things: to play well and to compete,” said Arteta, who saw his side trail 3-1 at the interval.
“We did the first one quite well in a lot of moments but the compete part – especially in and around our box – was not to the standards to win a football match against a good side. It’s better to give them [the goals away] in a friendly match than an official match. It’s always good when you lose a match in pre-season because it creates a bit more fire in the belly.”
Another Kepa calamity
Kepa Arrizabalaga will not want to watch Betis’s first goal back in a hurry. The Arsenal goalkeeper may have got a slight nudge as he came for the ball at a corner but he was all over the place and never looked even in the vaguest control of the situation. Rodrigo Riquelme scored at the far post after the ball sailed over the keeper. Arteta called it a “really sloppy goal”. With former Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier having arrived on a free transfer as back-up to Raya, Kepa faces an uncertain future at Arsenal. Moments like this will not help his cause.
He did not feature much last season but is probably best remembered for his torrid showing in the Carabao Cup final defeat by Manchester City in March. He looked as unconvincing here as he did then, as the former Chelsea goalkeeper also sliced a clearance in the build up to Betis’s third goal. Before then, Kai Havertz had turned over possession cheaply from which Nelson Deossa set up former West Ham midfielder Pablo Fornals to score.
Calafiori could be key to more adventurous approach
Arsenal need more creativity and firepower in attack, hence the interest in Vinícius and Atlético Madrid’s Julián Alvarez. Viktor Gyokeres again looked rather limited here and the likes of Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze are also still to report back. Yet one of the few, brighter aspects of Arsenal’s performances was the sight of the regal looking Riccardo Calafiori marauding forward from a very nominal left-back role.
If Arsenal are going to play more adventurously this season and try to ratchet up things in the entertainment stakes then Calafiori could have a big role to play, as long as Arteta can keep him fit. He can be a potent weapon galloping forward and there were clear glimpses of that here. Harnessing that talent while not compromising too much defensive security may be one of the manager’s challenges.
Worrying injury to youngster Copley
Louie Copley had only been on the pitch for nine minutes – a half-time substitute for Ben White – when the 19-year-old midfielder went down largely unchallenged with what looked like a troubling knee injury. Arteta admitted afterwards that the way the teenager fell to the ground was a concern and he looked in visible pain and distress as he was treated by the medical staff before being helped off the pitch.
The fear will be of some kind of ligament damage and Arteta confirmed Copley would be scanned on Thursday. “Quite worried to be fair for the kid because the mechanism doesn’t look very positive and the symptoms that he already has,” the manager said. “So we are going to have to wait and see for tomorrow’s scan. Touch wood that is not a bad one.”
Recommended
Arsenal and Vinicius Junior: What we know
Post-match thoughts of Hector Bellerin
Arsenal’s pre-season schedule
August 1- Girona 1 Arsenal 4
Today- Arsenal 1 Real Betis 3
August 9- Arsenal vs Borussia Dortmund
August 12- Arsenal vs Como
August 16- Arsenal vs Manchester City (Community Shield)
Post-match thoughts of Myles Lewis-Skelly
“It is another opportunity for fitness. Coming into games against teams of good quality, it is important we get good fitness. It is a chance to build momentum for the season ahead. We are taking steps in the right direction. Of course, we want more from the performance and the results, but we take learnings and move on.
“All of us, together, we share a common goal. We have confidence to build on. We will take every game as it comes. The atmosphere was amazing. I did not realise Ireland has so many Arsenal fans. We are so grateful for everyone who came to support us today. We wanted to give them a good result and performance. Hopefully next time we can.”
Riccardo Calafiori speaking to Premier Sports
“We always want to win and in the end we could not today. In some ways they deserved it and we could have done better. We did have some good moments though. We had an amazing season last season. I believe in this team and there are still players to come back from the World Cup. I am confident but we can always do better.”
FT stats
Possession: Arsenal 56%-44% Real Betis
Shots: 9-10
Shots on target: 2-7
Corners: 2-2
Full time
There is the final whistle in Dublin and Betis secure a 3-1 win over Arsenal at Aviva Stadium. Goals from Riquelme, Deossa and Fornals has led Manuel Pellegrini’s side to the victory. All four goals in the game came before the break.
90+1 mins: Arsenal 1 Real Betis 3
Jesus gets onto the end of a ball in behind, getting to it just before the byline, and delivers a dangerous cross but Natan does well on the stretch to clear.
90 mins: Arsenal 1 Real Betis 3
There will be three added minutes.
89 mins: Arsenal 1 Real Betis 3
Antony was booed when he came on and is also being booed whenever he touches the ball.
88 mins: Arsenal 1 Real Betis 3
Arsenal have registered just two shots on target in this game and both of those came in the first half. They have not really looked like scoring since the break, with probably Jesus coming closest.
85 mins: Arsenal 1 Real Betis 3
Double change for Betis as Morante and Gomez replace Riquelme and Bernal.
78 mins: Arsenal 1 Real Betis 3
Bellerin squares the ball from the byline and picks out Riquelme near the penalty spot but the latter is unable to take advantage.
76 mins: Arsenal 1 Real Betis 3
The changes keep coming for Arsenal as Gabriel and Martinelli, who have only recently returned from their breaks after the World Cup, go off after half an hour on the pitch. Nwaneri was the final member of the Arsenal starting XI to still be on but his night is over.
73 mins: Arsenal 1 Real Betis 3
Up until this point, Manuel Pellegrini had made just one change but he now makes a triple substitution, which sees three former Premier League players come on. Former Leeds duo Firpo and Llorente come on as does ex-Manchester United forward Antony. There are a few boos from the Arsenal fans as Antony comes on.
67 mins: Arsenal 1 Real Betis 3
Martinelli is played in down the left channel and gets onto the end of the ball inside the Betis box. He checks back and finds his compatriot Jesus on the edge of the box. Jesus tries to pick out the bottom corner but his shot goes just wide.
65 mins: Arsenal 1 Real Betis 3
Isco should put Betis 4-1 up but tries to be too cute and clever. Former Arsenal man Bellerin delivers a cross from the right side of the box and picks out a free Isco in the six-yard box. Isco attempts an audacious flick rather than putting his foot through it and his effort is saved by Meslier. That should have been a goal.
64 mins: Arsenal 1 Real Betis 3
Arsenal have changed nearly their entire starting XI whereas Betis have made just the one substitution thus far. Betis have played more games so far in pre-season, which probably explains the difference in the number of changes.
60 mins: Arsenal 1 Real Betis 3
Salmon is deceived by a dummy by Riquelme and then brings the Betis man down, earning him a yellow card.
On the hour mark, Mikel Arteta is going to make a triple change, which feels like it was a plan going into the game. That includes Meslier coming on in goal in place of Kepa.
55 mins: Arsenal 1 Real Betis 3
Copley is helped off by the two Arsenal medics, shaking his head and not putting any weight on his left leg, and is replaced by Julienne.
You have to hope that the knee injury to Louie Copley is not serious but judging by the way he went down largely unchallenged, his reaction and the way he was being helped down the tunnel it didn’t look too good. A tough moment for the youngster who had only been on the pitch nine minutes.
54 mins: Arsenal 1 Real Betis 3
Play is halted as Copley has been down for a little while clutching at his left knee. He got his studs stuck in the ground and went down in some pain. The medics come on to check that left knee. He only came on at half-time but his night is over not even 10 minutes into the second half.
51 mins: Arsenal 1 Real Betis 3
Nwaneri catches Bernal and if this was a competitive fixture than I think Nwaneri would perhaps have been booked for that challenge.
48 mins: Arsenal 1 Real Betis 3
Those raft of changes from Mikel Arteta at half-time have seen just four of their starting XI remain on the pitch; Kepa, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri.
47 mins: Arsenal 1 Real Betis 3
Arsenal have a corner early on in this second half as Vieira’s shot from distance deflects behind. The delivery from the left has too much on it, going over the heads of all the Arsenal players in the box, and Betis are able to clear.
Second half
Mikel Arteta has made a whole host of changes, which includes the likes of Jesus, Martinelli, Gabriel and Vieira coming on. Betis have brought the former Real Madrid man Isco on at the break.
We are back under way in Dublin.
HT stats
Possession: Arsenal 63%-37% Real Betis
Shots: 5-7
Shots on target: 2-6
Corners: 1-2
HT verdict
Arsenal’s title triumph was built on that stout defence and conceding so few but there have been so many self-inflicted wounds here. The first and third goals came from dismal individual errors from Kepa and Havertz and the second - while a wonder strike - came after Arsenal had failed to clear their lines properly.
Half-time
The first half is brought to an end and Real Betis take a 3-1 lead into the break.
45+1 mins: Arsenal 1 Real Betis 3
There will be one added minute.
GOAL! Fornals puts Betis 3-1 up
Manuel Pellegrini’s side have their third goal of the night and restore their two-goal advantage. Havertz gives the ball away poorly deep inside his own half and the ball is played into Fornals. The former West Ham man has it on the edge of the box and has P Garcia in space to his right but opts to shoot. It is a clinical finish from Fornals as he picks out the bottom left corner and celebrates by crossing his arms to form irons, paying tribute to his days at West Ham.
39 mins: Arsenal 1 Real Betis 2
Betis come close to restoring their two-goal advantage. Calafiori gives the ball away deep inside his own half and the ball is quickly moved onto P Garcia on the right side of the box. He opens up his body and curls a shot first time towards the far corner, forcing Kepa into the save down to his right.
34 mins: Arsenal 1 Real Betis 2
Riquelme shoots from just outside the box and forces Kepa into a save down to his right.
GOAL! Hincapie gets a goal back for Arsenal
Betis have one goal from a corner and now Arsenal do. Betis keeper Valles complains that he is being fouled by Havertz after Tzolis swung in the corner from the left and the ball comes through to Hincapie, who has the simplest of headers from inside the six-yard box.
31 mins: Arsenal 0 Real Betis 2
Important block from P Garcia. Dowman cuts in from the right across the face of the penalty area and finds Tzolis in space to his left. Tzolis takes one touch before taking on the shot from inside the Betis box but P Garcia slides in with a crucial block.
GOAL! Deossa screamer doubles Betis’ lead
That is quite the finish! Deossa receives the ball in a central position around 25 yards out. He takes a couple of touches before lashing a shot with his left foot. His effort flies into the top corner and Betis have a 2-0 lead. Considering the quality of the finish, I am surprised that Deossa did not celebrate more bearing in mind you do not score screamers like that every day!
25 mins: Arsenal 0 Real Betis 1
Since Gyokeres misses that very good chance just a minute into the game, Arsenal have not really carved out many genuine opportunities in front of goal, other than that Tzolis wasted chance. Every time they reach the final third, they are lacking that cutting edge.
21 mins: Arsenal 0 Real Betis 1
Calafiori’s role is interesting. He’s very nominally a left back but is routinely stepping into midfield and raiding forward, often ending up in positions you’d associate with a No. 10. It’s the kind of role Nico O’Reilly played under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.
19 mins: Arsenal 0 Real Betis 1
Valles is so, so lucky. The Betis keeper inexplicably passes the ball straight at Tzolis inside the Betis penalty area but Tzolis is unable to capitalise. That is a huge slice of luck for Valles as that was a ridiculous moment.
16 mins: Arsenal 0 Real Betis 1
Betis have already scored one goal from a corner and they now have another corner after Nwaneri’s clearance behind. The inswinger is sent into a good area but this time Arsenal deal with the danger.
13 mins: Arsenal 0 Real Betis 1
Arsenal were the better side in the early stages but Betis have grown into this and have taken confidence from that goal.
GOAL! Riquelme smashes Betis in front
The first goal of the night goes the way of the Spaniards. The corner from the left should be dealt with by Kepa but the Arsenal keeper makes an absolute mess of it. The ball goes straight through him and comes to Riquelme at the far post. He takes one touch before firing into the net. Kepa is appealing for a free-kick but there is never a foul in there.
That is dire goalkeeping from Kepa. He’s desperately tried to claim he was fouled but he just made a complete hash of it.
8 mins: Arsenal 0 Real Betis 0
Betis have their first shot of the night. P Garcia receives it out on the right and cuts inside onto his left. The space opens up for him to shoot and he obliges, forcing Kepa into a save before the ball is smashed behind for a corner...
7 mins: Arsenal 0 Real Betis 0
Calafiori may be on the teamsheet tonight for Arsenal at left-back but when they are in possession the Italian is moving into midfield. Lewis-Skelly, who is playing in the number six role, is dropping in between the two centre-backs when Arsenal have the ball.
4 mins: Arsenal 0 Real Betis 0
Betis win a free-kick out on the left, with the chance to send it into the Arsenal penalty area for the first time tonight. It is clipped into a good area but Kepa is out of his goal to catch it.
1 min: Arsenal 0 Real Betis 0
Arsenal should be ahead one minute into the game with their first attack of the game. Havertz picks up the ball on the corner of the box out on the left and passes it inside to Gyokeres. The Swedish striker takes one touch before shooting from the edge of the six-yard box but his shot is saved. In reality, Gyokeres should not have given Valles in the Betis goal any chance of saving that one.
Kick-off
We are under way at Aviva Stadium.
Nearly ready for action
Both sides emerge from the tunnel, Arsenal led out by Ben White and Betis by former Arsenal man Hector Bellerin, and make their way past the Premier League trophy. We are moments away from kick-off in Dublin.
The two starting XIs
Arsenal: Kepa; White, Mosquera, Hincapie, Calafiori; Lewis-Skelly, Havertz, Nwaneri; Dowman, Gyokeres, Tzolis.
Real Betis: Valles, Bellerin, Bartra, Natan, F.Garcia; Bernal, Gnangoro, Fornals; P.Garcia, Riquelme, Deossa.
Kick-off getting nearer
Pre-match thoughts of Betis boss Manuel Pellegrini
Premier League trophy in attendance
Gearing up
Premier Sports crew on Arsenal
Both sides arriving
New kit on show
Arsenal’s newest signing Christos Tzolis speaking to club’s in-house media
“When I see the training and how hungry they are for every training drill, that means everybody is ready to compete at the highest level. When you are a player of Arsenal, you compete for every title that is possible. It is not only about the Premier League, it is about all the competitions we are playing for. I see a clear mindset and everything, that everybody is on the same page to win titles here. I saw it from the first training and I think when you train like that in the game, it makes it even better. I came here ready, with my fitness level and I was happy that I could show it here as well. I want to be myself and to show on the pitch all the passion and desire to win because I really like to win games and to give everything.
“If I give 100% for every game and every duel, I think who does not like this? I think that is the best thing for a football player, and then you will always have the support from the supporters. I am thinking about how to improve and settle as fast as possible in the club, because I have the opportunity to train directly with the team from the beginning of the season, to play pre-season games and then to go to official games. This is a chance to play directly from the beginning and then it is up to me to show the qualities and what I can bring to the team. I am pretty confident I will show it in the next games.”
Arsenal’s transfer business so far
INS:
Illan Meslier ⇠ Leeds, Free
Christos Tzolis ⇠ Club Brugge, £34m
Piero Hincapie’s move from Bayer Leverkusen was made permanent this summer.
OUTS:
Leandro Trossard ⇢ Besiktas, £18m
Jakub Kiwior ⇢ Porto, £15m
Breaking news
Tonight’s venue
Imminent arrival?
Arsenal are closing in on the signing of Newcastle and Brazil midfielder Bruno Guimaraes in a deal worth £75m. He has been given permission to undergo a medical today and is set to join Arsenal in the coming days. One midfielder coming into Arsenal is set to see another depart as Dane Christian Norgaard closes in on a move to Everton after just one season at Arsenal.
Arsenal’s pre-season schedule
August 1- Girona 1 Arsenal 4
Today- Arsenal vs Real Betis
August 9- Arsenal vs Borussia Dortmund
August 12- Arsenal vs Como
August 16- Arsenal vs Manchester City (Community Shield)
Real Betis team
Arsenal team
A trip to the Emerald Isle
Premier League champions Arsenal continue their preparations for the new season as they take on Spanish side Real Betis at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, with this being the first-ever meeting between the two sides. This is the first time Arsenal have played a pre-season game in Dublin since August 2018, when they drew 1-1 with London rivals Chelsea, with Arsenal winning on penalties.
Arsenal beat Girona 4-1 in their opening game of pre-season, with new signing Christos Tzolis on the scoresheet in his first appearance for the club. After today, Arsenal have three more games, including the Community Shield, before they kick off the defence of their Premier League crown at home against newly-promoted Coventry on opening night of the new season. They are closing in on a deal for Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes, who is set to become one of Arsenal’s most expensive signings. Mikel Arteta’s side have been dealt a blow ahead of the season with the news that France centre-back William Saliba will miss an extended period due to a back injury. The likes of Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka and Noni Madueke are still yet to return after their World Cup exploits.
Real Betis, under the management of former Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini, finished fifth in La Liga last season and have therefore qualified for this coming season’s Champions League after a 20-year absence from the competition. Pellegrini has led Betis into European competitions for five consecutive seasons, which includes losing the 2025 Europa Conference League final to Chelsea. They have been busy in pre-season action already having played five games up to this point. They have won four of the five, including a 4-0 victory over Lyon, with just one defeat coming against Granada.
They have a number of former Premier League players in their ranks, including Antony, Giovani Lo Celso, Pablo Fornals and former Arsenal man Hector Bellerin. Real Betis have already played a number of friendlies as they build up to the start of their season, which begins on August 21 when they take on Real Sociedad.
Team news to follow shortly.
2026-08-05T21:25:49Z
