Arsenal Face Real Betis: Everything You Need to Know Before the Showdown

Following their victory over Girona in Catalonia at the weekend, Arsenal head back to the British Isles to take on Real Betis in Dublin this Wednesday evening.

The Gunners launched their preseason with a convincing 4–1 win over the second-division Spanish side at the Montilivi, with young talent Max Dowman and new signing Christos Tzolis both getting on the scoresheet.

Mikel Arteta declared his squad is "moving in the right direction" following the result, though fans are eagerly anticipating one or two high-profile additions in the transfer window. Arsenal are reportedly pursuing Newcastle United's Bruno Guimarães and Real Madrid star Vinícius Júnior.

Betis should offer a significant step up in competition compared to Saturday's opponents, who dropped out of La Liga last season. Betis, by contrast, have secured a Champions League spot after finishing fifth in the table. As a result, the two sides could potentially cross paths in Europe's top club competition in 2026–27.

Manuel Pellegrini's squad have already featured in five matches this summer, conceding just a single goal — in a loss to Granada. They have picked up wins against Lotte, Recreativo de Huelva, Lyon, and Almería, with another friendly against Bournemouth still to come before heading back to Spain.

Arsenal vs. Real Betis Score Prediction

Gunners Tested in Dublin

Both clubs face a momentous season ahead, with Arsenal looking to defend their Premier League title while Betis prepare for their first Champions League campaign since 2005–06.

Former Manchester City manager Pellegrini has overseen a remarkably successful era in Seville, guiding Betis to Copa del Rey glory in 2022 and a UEFA Conference League final appearance under his leadership.

Betis have had an extensive preseason so far, while Arsenal are just getting underway. The Gunners have a packed schedule ahead of the 2026–27 season, wrapping up with the Community Shield on Aug. 16 — just days before their Premier League opener against newly-promoted Coventry City.

Arteta's side looked sharp and clinical in Girona, but Betis should pose a tougher challenge. Friendlies are notoriously difficult to call, with managers rotating heavily through their squads, and Wednesday's match looks set to be a closely contested affair. Betis may benefit from their more extensive preseason preparation, but Arsenal possess the quality and tactical structure to come out on top.

Prediction: Arsenal 2–1 Real Betis

Arsenal Predicted Lineup vs. Real Betis

Gabriel and Gabriel Martinelli linked up with the squad ahead of the Girona match but were left out of the squad. The Brazilian duo should feature here, having had additional time to get up to speed.

Kai Havertz, Viktor Gyökeres, and Piero Hincapié each played just 30 minutes on Saturday after representing their countries at the World Cup. Their minutes on the pitch are expected to increase in Dublin.

Several players are still on post-tournament breaks following this summer's competition, though Martin Ødegaard is anticipated to return at some stage this week. His fellow Scandinavian, Christian Nørgaard, has just finalized a move to Everton.

Young star Dowman is expected to retain his spot on the right flank for as long as Bukayo Saka remains on holiday, with Tzolis similarly holding down the left side.

Arsenal predicted lineup vs. Real Betis (4-2-3-1): Kepa; White, Mosquera, Hincapié, Calafiori; Nwaneri, Lewis-Skelly, Havertz; Dowman, Gyökeres, Tzolis.

Real Betis Predicted Lineup vs. Arsenal

Goalkeeper Diego Conde arrived on loan from Villarreal for the coming season, but is currently sidelined with a shoulder problem and may miss the beginning of the new campaign.

21-year-old Ismael Barea suffered an ACL tear earlier this year and is not expected to return to action until 2027.

Gonzalo Petit and Iker Losada have not made the trip to Dublin, with Betis looking to offload both players. Abde Ezzalzouli continues his recovery from the knee injury he sustained just prior to the World Cup.

Nevertheless, recognizable names like Isco and Antony are set to appear against the Gunners. Hector Bellerín is also preparing to face his former side for the first time since his departure in 2021.

Real Betis predicted lineup vs. Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Vallés; Bellerín, Llorente, Gómez, Firpo; Roca, Corralejo; Antony, Isco, Fornals; Hernández.

What Time Does Arsenal vs. Real Betis Kick Off?

How to Watch Arsenal vs. Real Betis on TV, Live Stream

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