Real Betis beat Arsenal 3-1 in Dublin friendly

Real Betis defeated Arsenal 3-1 in a lively pre-season match in Dublin. All four goals arrived before half-time at the Aviva Stadium.

Rodrigo Riquelme opened the scoring for the Spanish side after nine minutes. Nelson Deossa added a powerful second goal before Piero Hincapie replied for Arsenal.

Betis created the first chances

Betis began with greater speed in possession and passed accurately through midfield. Arsenal struggled to close the spaces around its defensive line during the opening exchanges. Riquelme used the first clear chance after nine minutes. The winger reached a useful position and scored before Arsenal could reset its shape. The goal gave Betis confidence to continue attacking. Manuel Pellegrini’s side kept several players close to the ball and recovered possession quickly after losing it.

Deossa produced the most striking moment of the match in the 26th minute. The Colombian forward found room outside the crowded central area and sent a powerful shot beyond the goalkeeper. Pablo Fornals had helped create both early goals. His passing connected the midfield with the forwards and allowed Betis to attack without forcing long balls. Arsenal still carried a threat from set pieces. Hincapie reduced the deficit with a header after a corner delivered by Christos Tzolis. The response briefly changed the pace of the half.

Fornals restored the two-goal lead

Betis scored again soon after Hincapie’s goal. Deossa supplied the final pass, and Fornals made it 3-1. The third goal reflected Betis’s sharp work around the penalty area. The Spanish team used short passes, drew defenders toward the ball and found the free runner at the right moment. Arsenal had periods of possession but created fewer clear chances. Several attacks ended before the final pass reached a player inside the box.

The English side also left space when moves broke down. Betis used those moments to carry the ball forward and keep Arsenal’s defenders running toward their own goal. Four first-half goals gave both coaches a clear body of work to review. Betis showed accuracy near goal, while Arsenal’s new combinations still needed time together. The result remained 3-1 at the interval. Neither side treated the second half as a chase for more goals, because both coaches planned extensive changes.

Both coaches used the second half for changes

Mikel Arteta changed his entire Arsenal team at half-time. The decision gave another group of players a full period and reduced the physical load on the starters. Pellegrini made several changes but retained goalkeeper Alvaro Valles, defender Natan and former Arsenal full-back Hector Bellerin. Those players completed the whole match. The many substitutions slowed the rhythm. New partnerships appeared across the pitch, and neither team matched the attacking fluency seen before the break.

Arsenal improved its control of possession but did not find another goal. Betis protected the central area and avoided offering simple chances close to Valles. The second half still offered useful minutes for younger players and recent arrivals. Pre-season matches allow coaches to compare different partnerships under match pressure. Betis managed the remaining time without losing its shape. Arsenal continued moving the ball but could not reduce the two-goal margin.

Four first-half goals shaped the match

The score gave Betis a positive result against strong opposition. More importantly, the team created chances through several players rather than one isolated attack. Riquelme, Deossa and Fornals each influenced the score. Fornals provided creativity, Deossa added a goal and an assist, and Riquelme started the productive opening period. Arsenal’s goal from Hincapie showed another useful set-piece option. The defender attacked the delivery well and gave his side a chance to recover.

Arteta also gained minutes for two different line-ups. That information will support later choices as Arsenal moves closer to competitive fixtures. All four goals came before half-time. Betis scored three times and protected that 3-1 lead throughout the second half. The match served its pre-season purpose without requiring broad conclusions. Betis were sharper near goal, and that difference decided the result.

The four goals came from distinct situations

Riquelme’s opener followed an early Betis attack before Arsenal settled into the match. Deossa’s second came from a more individual strike and increased the pressure on the English defence. Hincapie answered from a corner rather than open play. Tzolis supplied the delivery, and the defender used his height to direct the ball toward goal.

Fornals then finished another flowing Betis move. Deossa provided the final pass after scoring earlier, while Fornals added a goal to his two assists. Those different types of attack explain why Betis created the clearer first half. The Spanish side threatened through movement, distance shooting and combinations near the area.