Arsenal and Real Betis Meet in Dublin Friendly as New Season Nears

Dublin's Aviva StadiumVenue·Aviva Stadium hosted a significant pre-season encounter on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, as English champions ArsenalTeam·Arsenal met Spanish UEFA Champions League qualifiers Real BetisTeam·Real Betis. This friendly match, kicking off at 19:30 BST, represented the first-ever meeting between the two clubs, serving as a crucial part of their preparations for the demanding 2026/27 campaign.

ArsenalTeam·Arsenal entered the fixture on the back of a highly successful 2025/26 season, having secured the Premier LeagueCompetition·Premier League title with 85 points and reaching the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League, where they were ultimately defeated by Paris Saint-GermainTeam·Paris Saint-Germain. However, their squad for this pre-season clash was notably impacted by international commitments, with key players such as Declan RicePlayer·Declan Rice, Bukayo SakaPlayer·Bukayo Saka, William SalibaPlayer·William Saliba, Eberechi EzePlayer·Eberechi Eze, and Martin Ødegaard unavailable due to their participation in the FIFA World CupCompetition·FIFA World Cup. Defender Jurrien TimberPlayer·Jurrien Timber was also sidelined with a groin problem. These absences provided valuable opportunities for academy talents like Ethan NwaneriPlayer·Ethan Nwaneri and Max DowmanPlayer·Max Dowman, alongside new signings including Christos TzolisPlayer·Christos Tzolis, Kepa ArrizabalagaPlayer·Kepa Arrizabalaga, Cristhian MosqueraPlayer·Cristhian Mosquera, Piero HincapiePlayer·Piero Hincapie, Riccardo CalafioriPlayer·Riccardo Calafiori, and Viktor Gyokeres, all of whom featured in the confirmed starting XI. The lineup also included Ben WhitePlayer·Ben White, Myles Lewis-SkellyPlayer·Myles Lewis-Skelly, and Kai HavertzPlayer·Kai Havertz.

Real BetisTeam·Real Betis arrived in Dublin having already completed five pre-season matches, suggesting a potentially stronger physical condition. The Spanish side enjoyed a commendable 2025/26 La LigaCompetition·La Liga season, finishing 5th with 60 points and, notably, securing a coveted spot in the UEFA Champions League for the first time in 21 years. Their recent form in the league saw them achieve four wins and one draw in their final five matches. The friendly offered former ArsenalTeam·Arsenal full-back Héctor Bellerín a chance to face his old club. Diego LlorentePlayer·Diego Llorente, recovering from muscular fatigue, was expected to be available, while IscoPlayer·Isco, who recently made his first pre-season appearance, was likely to start. Winger Pablo GarciaPlayer·Pablo Garcia was the sole player to retain his place from Betis's previous friendly, with new acquisitions Facundo BernalPlayer·Facundo Bernal and Fran GarciaPlayer·Fran Garcia also featuring prominently.

As a pre-season friendly, the match carried no direct competitive implications for either club's league standings or European aspirations for the 2025/26 season. Instead, the focus for both ArsenalTeam·Arsenal and Real BetisTeam·Real Betis was firmly on building match fitness, integrating new players, and refining tactical approaches ahead of their respective domestic and continental challenges in the upcoming 2026/27 season. For Betis, the prospect of a return to the UEFA Champions League adds an extra layer of anticipation to their preparations, while ArsenalTeam·Arsenal aims to defend their Premier LeagueCompetition·Premier League crown and push further in Europe.