August 6, 2026 | 09:33 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Arsenal suffered their first pre-season defeat after losing 3-1 to Real Betis in Dublin on Wednesday, delivering an underwhelming performance despite fielding several senior players, including Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyökeres.
The Premier League champions struggled defensively from the outset and conceded three first-half goals before failing to mount a comeback after the break.
Real Betis took the lead inside the opening 10 minutes when Rodrigo Riquelme capitalized on defensive lapses to score. Nelson Deossa then doubled the Spanish side's advantage with a powerful long-range strike that left Arsenal with an uphill task.
As reported by ESPN, Mikel Arteta's side featured many first-team regulars but looked vulnerable throughout the opening half, allowing Betis to dictate the tempo and punish defensive mistakes.
Arsenal briefly reignited hopes of a comeback when defender Piero Hincapié headed home from a corner to reduce the deficit. However, Pablo Fornals restored Betis' two-goal cushion before halftime with a composed finish from the edge of the penalty area.
Arteta introduced a series of substitutions after the interval in an attempt to change the momentum, but neither side found the net during a scrappy second half marked by frequent stoppages and player changes.
According to The Athletic, Arsenal's performance lacked intensity and cohesion, with the second half offering few clear-cut chances despite the tactical adjustments. The report also noted that Betis comfortably protected their lead as Arsenal struggled to create meaningful attacking opportunities.
The defeat ends Arsenal's unbeaten run in pre-season and provides Arteta with areas to address before the new campaign begins.
Arsenal will have an immediate opportunity to respond when they face Borussia Dortmund in their next pre-season fixture on Sunday.
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