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Arsenal paid the price for a sluggish display as they fell to a 3–1 defeat against Real Betis in a preseason friendly held in Dublin.
The Gunners had cruised to a convincing 4–1 victory over Girona in their opening summer friendly in front of their fans, but their latest Spanish opposition wasted no time at Aviva Stadium as Rodrigo Riquelme struck in the ninth minute. Nelson Deossa's spectacular effort then doubled Betis' lead midway through the opening half.
Piero Hincapié pulled one back for Arsenal from a corner delivered by new signing Christos Tzolis, but Pablo Fornals deservedly restored the two-goal buffer for Betis just before the interval.
Mikel Arteta made sweeping changes at the break and throughout the second half, giving a number of young players valuable game time. Nevertheless, Arsenal were unable to mount any kind of comeback as they suffered their first loss of the summer.
Familiar Problems for Kepa
Speculation has been mounting that Kepa Arrizabalaga may not remain an Arsenal player beyond the summer—exit talk only intensifying following the signing of free agent Illan Meslier from Leeds United—and Wednesday's chance to reestablish himself as a credible backup to David Raya did not go according to plan.
The Spaniard was at fault for both of Betis' first two goals as his weaknesses were ruthlessly exposed.
For the opener, Kepa found himself caught between positions, coming off his line to collect Fornals's corner but badly misjudging the trajectory of the delivery. A slight contact threw him off balance and left Riquelme free to finish at the far post, with Kepa's half-hearted appeals for a foul rightfully ignored. It was simply poor goalkeeping.
The 31-year-old's distribution then came under scrutiny as Betis added their second. A wayward clearance handed the ball straight back to Arsenal's opponents, who moved it well to Deossa on the edge of the box. An unstoppable shot followed as Kepa dived helplessly to his left.
Kepa's costly error in last season's Carabao Cup final only highlighted the gap between him and Raya, and he has done little to rebuild his standing since. This was yet further evidence of his limitations.
Makeshift Midfield Struggles
With Declan Rice, Martín Zubimendi and Martin Ødegaard among those absent as they recuperate from their World Cup commitments, Arteta was compelled to field an unfamiliar trio in the middle of the park. Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri were deployed in deeper positions, while Kai Havertz played in more advanced areas.
However, somewhat predictably given the players involved, the makeshift midfield proved worryingly easy to bypass.
Betis were the superior side during a thoroughly below-par first half from Arsenal, with direct counter-attacks causing Arteta's team particular difficulties. A fragile defensive screen failed to shield the back four, which faced seven shots—six of which were on target—and conceded three times before the break.
There was simply insufficient pressing without the ball, which is why Betis were able to score twice from distance with virtually no pressure applied. The errant pass from Havertz that handed Fornals his scoring opportunity encapsulated an utterly listless performance.
Arsenal fans won't be overly alarmed, with the bulk of their first-choice midfield still unavailable. But the likes of Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri, both vying for more prominent roles, did little to impress Arteta—a significant setback ahead of Bruno Guimarães's expected arrival.
Heartbreak for Teenage Gem
Preseason offers the ideal platform for emerging talents to make their mark, but Louie Copley, one of Arsenal's most promising academy prospects, was given just 11 minutes to impress before his afternoon was cruelly cut short by injury.
The 19-year-old midfielder spent the second half of last season on loan at Crawley Town and has attracted attention for his tireless performances and composure beyond his years. With so many midfielders sidelined, this summer represented a golden opportunity for Copley to shine, but fortune had other plans.
Having only come on at halftime, the teenager limped off the pitch in clear discomfort, his face etched with pain. After catching his studs in the turf, Copley appeared to twist his knee—a setback that could sideline him for the remainder of Arsenal's preseason schedule.
The youngster will be desperately hoping for a swift recovery, but the early indications are not encouraging.
No Reason to Panic
Preseason results are frequently blown out of proportion. A poor performance or heavy defeat can send supporters into a frenzy, particularly on social media, but there is little reason for Arteta to be excessively troubled by Wednesday's outcome.
Granted, Arsenal failed to impress and there were some underwhelming individual performances, but the Premier League champions are still without a significant number of first-team regulars. The midfield has been heavily depleted, first-choice goalkeeper Raya is yet to return, and the absences of Bukayo Saka and Noni Madueke are impossible to overlook.
Arsenal endured preseason losses to Tottenham Hotspur and Villarreal before going on to enjoy a remarkable 2025–26 campaign, once again demonstrating just how little friendly results matter in the lead-up to the new season.
The Gunners still have three games remaining before their Premier League title defense gets underway, with ample time to sharpen their fitness and form.