Arsenal experienced a disappointing 3-1 defeat against Real Betis in a pre-season friendly held in Dublin, marking their first loss of the summer.

The match saw Kepa Arrizabalaga at fault for the opening goal, failing to claim a corner kick which allowed Rodrigo Riquelme to score at the back post. Nelson Deossa doubled Betis's lead with a stunning long-range shot shortly after.

Arsenal managed to pull one back when Piero Hincapie headed in an inswinging corner from new signing Christos Tzolis. However, Pablo Fornals restored the two-goal cushion for Betis with a well-placed shot following a misplaced pass by Kai Havertz.

Key moments from the match included:

• 9': Riquelme scores due to Arrizabalaga's error.
• 26': Deossa nets a powerful long-range goal.
• 32': Hincapie scores from Tzolis's corner.
• 43': Fornals strikes to make it 3-1.
• 46': Mikel Arteta makes seven substitutions, including introducing Gabriel and Gabriel Martinelli.
• 55': Youngster Louie Copley suffers a knee injury.

Despite the result, Arteta emphasized the importance of the match for fitness rather than results, stating, "It's always good when you lose a match in pre-season, it creates a bit more fire in the belly."

With several key players still absent due to the World Cup, Arsenal's midfield struggled against Betis, showcasing the need for new signings like Bruno Guimaraes, for whom the club has agreed on a £75m fee with Newcastle. The Gunners remain focused on improving their squad depth as they prepare to defend their Premier League title.