Premier League champions Arsenal look to maintain their perfect start to pre-season on Wednesday when they face Real Betis at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin in a first-ever meeting between the two clubs.
Mikel Arteta’s side head to Ireland full of confidence after a 3-0 behind-closed-doors win over MK Dons was followed by a comfortable 4-1 victory over Girona, with new signing Christos Tzolis opening his account and 16-year-old academy sensation Max Dowman continuing to catch the eye with a goal and an assist. Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus were also on target at Estadio Montilivi.
Real Betis arrive considerably further into their pre-season schedule, already on their sixth outing of the summer, with four wins from their first five – their only defeat coming in a 1-0 loss to Granada. Manuel Pellegrini’s side secured a fifth-placed finish in La Liga last season, earning Champions League qualification for only the second time in the club’s history, and they most recently edged past Almeria thanks to a late Ivan Corralejo winner.
The occasion will carry extra significance for former Arsenal full-back Hector Bellerin, who returns to face his old club having scored twice and set up three goals for Betis in the 2025-26 La Liga season.
Team News for Arsenal v Real Betis
Havertz, Viktor Gyokeres and Piero Hincapie were all restricted to 33-minute run-outs against Girona following their return from World Cup duty, and are likely to play for longer. Jurrien Timber also missed the Girona game after travelling back to London to continue his rehabilitation from a groin problem.
There was better news at the back, with Ben White coming through 61 minutes unscathed following a long-term knee injury, though youngster Marli Salmon remains an option if Arteta prefers not to risk him again.
Real Betis have their own fitness concerns. Diego Llorente was withdrawn late against Almeria with muscular fatigue but is not thought to have a serious issue, while Aitor Ruibal (knee), Diego Conde (shoulder) and Abde Ezzalzouli (knee) all remain unavailable. Former Real Madrid midfielder Isco made his first pre-season appearance in that win and is a candidate to start.
Expected line-ups for Arsenal v Real Betis
Arsenal: Kepa; Mosquera, Salmon, Hincapie, Calafiori; Nwaneri, Lewis-Skelly, Havertz; Dowman, Gyokeres, Tzolis
Real Betis: Gonzalez; Bellerin, Llorente, Gomez, Firpo; Roca, Corralejo; Antony, Isco, Fornals; Petit
How to watch Arsenal v Real Betis: TV and online streams
Arsenal v Real Betis kicks off at 7:30pm UK time on Wednesday at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. The match is not being shown on free-to-air TV in the UK, but it will be broadcast live on Premier Sports 1.
Fans can also stream the game via Arsenal’s own app and website, either through a single match pass priced at £6.99 or a full pre-season streaming bundle for £14.99.
Stats for Arsenal v Real Betis
- This is the first-ever meeting between Arsenal and Real Betis in any competition
- Arsenal have won both of their pre-season friendlies so far, scoring seven goals and conceding just once
- Real Betis have won four of their five pre-season friendlies, with their only defeat a 1-0 loss to Granada
- Betis qualified for the Champions League for only the second time in their history after finishing fifth in La Liga last season
- The two clubs could meet again this season, with the draw for the 2026-27 Champions League league phase taking place later this month
Prediction for Arsenal v Real Betis
Arsenal’s youthful attack has been in excellent form throughout the early stages of pre-season, and while Real Betis provide a stiffer test than their previous opponents, fatigue could be a factor for Pellegrini’s side in their sixth friendly of the summer. Expect Arteta’s men to maintain their 100% record.
Prediction: Arsenal 3-1 Real Betis
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