Arsenal vs Real Betis: Pre-season Friendly Preview, Team News, and Lineups
After a strong opening performance against a Spanish side, Arsenal look to maintain their flawless pre-season record in Wednesday's friendly against Real Betis at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium. The Gunners demolished Girona 4-1 in their first official warm-up, while Betis enter having played six pre-season games, winning four of their first five.
Arsenal's Pre-season So Far
With consecutive three-goal wins and new signing Christos Tzolis already finding the net unofficially, alongside promising youngster Max Dowman, manager Mikel Arteta has been pleased. Arsenal started with a 3-0 win behind closed doors over MK Dons, then easily dispatched second-tier Spanish side Girona.
At Estadio Montilivi, sixteen-year-old Dowman grabbed a goal and an assist, while Tzolis scored along with seasoned forwards Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz.
This will be Arsenal’s third game at the Aviva Stadium, having drawn 1-1 with Chelsea in 2018 and beaten Dundalk 4-2 in a 2020 Europa League match there.
Off the pitch, attention remains on the Vinicius Junior transfer saga, which Arteta dismissed with laughter when questioned recently.
Real Betis' Pre-season Journey
Real Betis, managed by Manuel Pellegrini, have only one loss in their friendlies so far—a 1-0 defeat to Granada on July 25. Their victories include wins over Lotte, Recreativo de Huelva, Lyon, and most recently Almeria, where Ivan Corralejo scored the decisive 70th-minute goal.
Finishing fifth in La Liga last season earned Betis a Champions League spot for only the second time ever. They face tough tests ahead with matches against Champions League hopeful Arsenal, Europa League-bound Bournemouth, and Inter Milan before starting their league campaign against Real Sociedad on August 21.
This friendly marks the first-ever meeting between Arsenal and Real Betis, though they could meet again in the Champions League group stage if the draw goes that way on August 27.
Recent Form
- Arsenal Friendly Results: Win, Win
- Real Betis Friendly Results: Win, Win, Loss, Win, Win
Team News
Following their World Cup returns, Havertz, Viktor Gyokeres, and Piero Hincapie each played 33 minutes against Girona by design. No World Cup players are expected back for Arsenal on Wednesday. Meanwhile, defender Jurrien Timber missed the Girona match due to ongoing groin rehab.
Ben White returned from a long-term knee injury with 61 minutes against Girona, but coach Arteta might opt for young Marli Salmon to avoid risking White.
For Betis, defender Diego Llorente left late in the Almeria match with muscle fatigue but is not thought to have a serious injury. Betis miss Giovani Lo Celso, Aitor Ruibal, Diego Conde, and Abde Ezzalzouli due to injuries.
Ex-Real Madrid player Isco featured for the first time this pre-season against Almeria and could start. Former Arsenal full-back Hector Bellerin, who had 2 goals and 3 assists in La Liga last season, may reunite with his old club.
Possible Starting Lineups
- Arsenal: Kepa; Mosquera, Salmon, Hincapie, Calafiori; Nwaneri, Lewis-Skelly, Havertz; Dowman, Jesus, Tzolis
- Real Betis: Gonzalez; Bellerin, Natan, Gomez, F. Garcia; Roca, Bernal; Antony, Isco, Fornals; Hernandez
Prediction
Arsenal’s youthful attack has looked sharp this summer, but Betis, another Champions League competitor, will offer a sterner challenge. Betis might suffer fatigue playing their sixth friendly, so we expect Arsenal to keep their 100% pre-season record intact with a 3-1 win.
