en.malanginspirasi.com – Arsenal wrapped up their pre-season training camp in Spain and Ireland with a 3-1 defeat against a sharp Real Betis side at a packed Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Wednesay, August 5th.
Despite a strong turnout of over 51,000 predominantly Arsenal fans creating a vibrant home-away atmosphere, Mikel Arteta’s side fell behind early to a close-range finish from Riquelme and a stunning 30-yard rocket from Nelson Deossa.
Piero Hincapie pulled a goal back before the break following a brilliant corner from Christos Tzolis, but former West Ham midfielder Pablo Fornals restored Betis’s two-goal advantage just before half-time.
A raft of second-half changes helped build squad fitness ahead of the new campaign, though the evening was slightly marred by an injury to young right-back Louie Copley.
Fresh off a 4-1 win against Girona, Arsenal nearly opened the scoring immediately.
A swift counter down the left flank by Kai Havertz picked out Viktor Gyokeres, whose close-range effort was brilliantly denied by Betis goalkeeper Alvaro Valles.
Betis capitalized almost instantly, however. Following a long-range effort by Pablo Garcia that forced a full-stretch save from Kepa Arrizabalaga, the resulting corner evaded everyone in the box, leaving Riquelme unmarked at the far post to tap in.
Betis doubled their lead before the half-hour mark through a moment of brilliance from Nelson Deossa.
Given too much time nearly 30 yards out, he unleashed an unstoppable rocket into the top corner, leaving Arrizabalaga with zero chance.
Arsenal found a response when a clever pass from Max Dowman to Christos Tzolis forced a corner.
Tzolis swung in a pinpoint delivery over the keeper, allowing Piero Hincapie to head home from right underneath the crossbar.
Just as momentum seemed to shift, a misplaced pass from Havertz in his own half allowed Pablo Fornals to slide a precise shot into the bottom corner past Arrizabalaga.
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Arteta introduced seven changes at the break, handing pre-season debuts to Gabriel Magalhaes and Gabriel Martinelli.
Former Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin anchored the Betis defense, while 19-year-old Louie Copley unfortunately had to be withdrawn with an injury just 10 minutes after coming on.
Illan Meslier made a sharp low stop to deny Isco, and Gabriel Jesus fired wide after a dangerous cutback from Martinelli, but the scoreline remained unchanged through the final whistle.
Arsenal now return to London to complete their pre-season preparations, facing Borussia Dortmund on Sunday in the Emirates Cup before playing Como next Wednesday.
They then take on Manchester City in the Community Shield at the Millennium Stadium on Sunday, August 16, ahead of the Premier League season opener at home against Coventry City on Friday, August 21.
