- 2.1K Views
- 0 Shares
- Updated Aug 6, 2026 at 6:14am
Arsenal faced Real Betis tonight in a high-profile pre-season friendly as preparations for the 2026/27 campaign continued. The Arsenal vs Real Betis clash offered Arsenal FC another opportunity to test academy prospects and new signings while several senior players remained unavailable following the FIFA World Cup.
The match also marked the first appearance of Arsenal’s new 2026/27 third kit, adding extra interest to an encounter that saw Mikel Arteta continue experimenting with his squad against a Real Betis side that arrived with significantly more pre-season match fitness.
Arsenal vs Real Betis Team News and Match Context
The buildup to Arsenal vs Real Betis was dominated by Arsenal’s lengthy list of absentees. Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, William Saliba, Eberechi Eze and Martin Ødegaard all remained unavailable, giving several academy players another chance to impress.
Teenagers Ethan Nwaneri and Max Dowman were expected to feature prominently after strong performances against Girona. Summer signing Christos Tzolis also looked to continue his impressive start alongside Viktor Gyökeres.
Real Betis entered the match in stronger physical condition after completing five pre-season fixtures, including victories over Olympique Lyonnais and UD Almería.
Key Storylines
Former Arsenal defender Héctor Bellerín faced his old club for the first time since leaving North London.
Away from the pitch, Arsenal also continued to dominate transfer headlines with reported interest in Bruno Guimarães and Vinícius Júnior as preparations for the new season gathered pace.
Full-Time Update
Real Betis claimed a convincing 3-1 victory over Arsenal in their pre-season friendly at the Aviva Stadium after a clinical first-half display proved decisive. The match kicked off 15 minutes late after Betis were delayed by traffic, but the Spanish side quickly settled into their rhythm.
1′ Kickoff: The match gets underway in front of a packed crowd in Dublin.
8′ Corner – Real Betis: Ben White concedes the visitors’ first corner.
9′ Goal – Arsenal 0-1 Real Betis: Rodrigo Riquelme taps into an empty net after Kepa Arrizabalaga misjudges the corner.
20′ Offside – Arsenal: Viktor Gyökeres is flagged after receiving Ethan Nwaneri’s through ball.
25′ Corner – Arsenal: Riccardo Calafiori wins a corner, but Marc Bartra clears.
26′ Goal – Arsenal 0-2 Real Betis: Nelson Deossa curls a stunning long-range strike into the top corner.
31′ Corner – Arsenal: Max Dowman and Ben White combine to earn another corner.
32′ Goal – Arsenal 1-2 Real Betis: Piero Hincapié heads home after Christos Tzolis’ corner causes confusion.
38′ Yellow Card – Real Betis: Facundo Bernal is booked for fouling Ethan Nwaneri.
43′ Goal – Arsenal 1-3 Real Betis: Pablo Fornals capitalizes on Kai Havertz’s misplaced pass to restore Betis’ two-goal lead.
45′ Half-Time: Real Betis lead 3-1.
46′ Mass Substitutions – Arsenal: Mikel Arteta introduces seven new players.
46′ Substitutions – Real Betis: Manuel Pellegrini makes multiple changes, including bringing on Isco.
50′ Corner – Real Betis: Anthony de Melier saves Isco’s effort after the corner.
55′ Injury – Arsenal: Louie Copley is forced off injured and replaced by Myles Lewis-Skelly.
62′ Chance – Arsenal: Gabriel Jesus fires narrowly wide after good work from Gabriel Martinelli.
74′ Offside – Arsenal: Martinelli is caught offside from Fábio Vieira’s pass.
81′ Corner – Arsenal: Vieira’s delivery is cleared before Jesus can convert.
88′ Yellow Card – Arsenal: Gabriel Magalhães is cautioned for a late challenge.
90′ Full-Time: Real Betis secure a 3-1 pre-season victory over Arsenal.
Dogli Wilberforce is a writer covering NASCAR, Formula 1, and the IndyCar Series for Heavy Sports. He has also written for Sportsnaut, FanSided, Total Apex Sports, and Last Word on Sports. Wilberforce focuses on the NASCAR Cup Series, breaking down news, driver stories, and key moments with a clear, fast, and engaging style. His work connects headlines to context, helping readers understand what matters most in the sport. More about Dogli Wilberforce
0 Comments
More Heavy on Arsenal
Source: Heavy.com
