Arsenal wrapped up their pre-season training camp with a 3-1 defeat to Real Betis in Dublin, but the scoreline alone doesn’t tell the full story.
Real Betis punished the Gunners in the first half, with goals from Riquelme, Nelson Deossa and Pablo Fornals, while Piero Hincapie headed home Arsenal’s only goal from an excellent Christos Tzolis corner.
However, as is often the case in pre-season, the result was only part of the story.
Another exercise in building fitness
Mikel Arteta’s priority was clearly giving as many players as possible valuable minutes ahead of the new campaign rather than chasing the result at all costs.
Arsenal used 25 players over the course of the evening, making seven changes at half-time before further substitutions followed throughout the second half.
There were encouraging moments despite the defeat. New summer signing Tzolis continued to impress with another creative display, Max Dowman again showed flashes of his quality, while Gabriel Magalhaes and Gabriel Martinelli both made their first pre-season appearances after the break.
The only sour note beyond the result was an injury to young defender Louie Copley, who was forced off just ten minutes after coming on in what appeared to be a distressing moment for the academy prospect.
Should Arsenal supporters be concerned?
Pre-season results can often look alarming on paper, but they rarely provide the full picture.
Real Betis arrived in Dublin having already won four pre-season matches and looked far sharper in the opening 45 minutes. Arsenal, meanwhile, were once again using the fixture to build match fitness, experiment with combinations and spread minutes across a large squad.
With the Community Shield and Premier League opener now fast approaching, Arteta will undoubtedly want to tighten up defensively after conceding three goals, including two excellent long-range strikes and a goal from a corner.
But it’s also worth remembering that pre-season is about ensuring players are physically and tactically ready for when the competitive action begins, rather than judging a squad on one friendly result.
As reported by Arsenal, when Arteta was asked post-match about the importance of the game he seemed fairly relaxed, responding:
“Well, the important part is to win it, and we didn’t manage to win it, so disappointed obviously for the result. It’s true we used 25 players, so you need to give a bit of context to the game. In the first half with more starters, two very different things: how we played and how we competed, because we had some fantastic moments in the time we played, by the way, we competed especially in and around our box, that’s not the standards that we are used to so there are things to improve obviously, some positives to take from the game and a bad result sometimes it’s good to create even more fire in them.”
Arsenal now return home to face Borussia Dortmund in the Emirates Cup before taking on Como in their final pre-season fixture. Those matches should provide a clearer indication of where the squad stands before competitive football returns.
What did you make of Arsenal’s performance against Real Betis? Is there anything to worry about, or are pre-season results largely irrelevant? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
ADMIN COMMENT
So here are some simple rules which I must insist commenters follow….
You agree not to give any personal abuse to other Arsenal fans. Everyone is allowed to hold their own opinions even if you disagree with them. It COSTS NOTHING TO BE POLITE TO OTHER ARSENAL FANS.
CALLING ALL ARSENAL FANS! Anyone who would like to contribute an Article or Video opinion piece on JustArsenal, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us through this link…
Going into the season with Gyorkes and Hartvetz should be our biggest worries. They were both underwhelming when it mattered in the world cup games I watched. Two flat track bullies who were easily contained by stronger defences. I can’t see either of them making anything out of nothing. Far too early to call but failure to adequately reinforce, with an attacking fullback, and a strike player is worrying and means more square passing heading nowhere..
Would be great to get a more creative center forward or top left winger I agree. We do need to strengthen in attack to maintain our position.
But we won the league and got to the Champion’s League final with Gyok and Havertz in the 9 role last year. Even with Havertz out injured for half the season, and ALL our other forwards underperforming, we still scored the second most goals! So I can kinda see why the club isn’t all at panic stations. Other teams will improve this year but we’re still strong comparatively.
@Berkampfwagen
No offence or disrespect meant. But, that was then. This is now. The landscape has changed exponentially. New managers and players on the scene mean new and possibly dangerous threats from other teams. Just sayin…
Oh I know, as I said, I also believe we need to strengthen in attack. Performances were obviously not up to the level we expect last year.
Just saying it’s not all doom and gloom yet. Man City and Chelsea look to be our biggest threats this season as things stand, and we’re still easily competitive with them. Ødegaard is in better form, Havertz is back to fitness, we have a new left winger that doesn’t drop our level – and may actually do better numberswise than Trossard this season – and we’re still looking to recruit.
The reality though, is there only a small handful of players available in forward positions this window that could level us up significantly, and the ones that *might* be, would probably set new English transfer records. Like £10-20m over Rogers!
So there’s a very high probability in my view that despite the ambitions. we can’t add any big upgrades beyond Guimaraes, and just have to support our forwards having a better season this time around. We’ve seen the club in much worse states than this!
Actually I’ll add we shouldn’t sleep on Spurs. I think they’ll do much better this season, quite probably make 4th.
Wow!
Who would you think they’ll top?
Right now I’m thinking by late season we have a fairly traditional top 6:
Arsenal
Man City
Chelsea
(could switch these, major unknowns still)
Then 4th-6th:
Spurs
Man Utd
Liverpool
Though these last three could go any way. As Dan suggests maybe I’m overestimating Spurs based on the overhaul, returning players like Maddison and Kulusevski and new manager bounce. Might be integration problems etc.
think peeps getting a bit carried away with Spurs
I’ll write my predictions soon I guess for each club
It would be better if Arsenal can sign a more physically dominant CF to create more good chances for our other attackers, because Gyokeres is very reluctant to do aerial duels despite having a decent hold-up play and Havertz is injury prone
I think Arsenal will only sign a new CF if they manage to sell Jesus to Napoli
We’ve still got Martinelli to penetrate the opposition’s defense from the left wing, but Tzolis was unable to dribble past any opponent during 1-vs-1 situations in pre-season games
Well no, it was basically a training exercise and an opportunity for academy players to get some action.
They don’t need to feel worried about a meaningless friendly.
I just feel bad for Arteta.
He is just not getting the support he needs from the club.
With one year left on his contract I would be looking at pastures new as it is clear that Arsenal’s Sporting Director is neither competent or appraciative of the need to strengthen when you are at the top.
Was it not Josh Kroenke who said “if you are not trying to continually evolve and improve you are standing still”
Obviously Berta never got the memo…
Leon,
On reading you’re latest post I was waiting to read something derogatory about Berta, and you didn’t let me down.
You’ve really got it in for him haven’t you. If he has the players he wants in place by the start of the season, you’re going to have egg on you’re face.
It’s not how quick you are in getting these signings, it’s getting the right ones. And whether that’s in the first month of the window or the last it doesn’t really matter.
I thought I could be harsh on Arteta at times, but you make me look like a pussy cat in comparison. 🤦♂️😂
The kamikaze to finish it off….. Lmao
re Leon, like clockwork
Miaow
Leon did Mr Berta used to work with you once and accidentally ate you sandwich on lunch or something?
Leon, I don’t think I’ve ever read a comment from you that has not mentioned Berta.
It is worrying but last season pre-season was worrying too (we got whooped by Tottenham). Everything turned out okay eventually. As long as Kepa is not starting in the Community Shield we will sorta have a chance. Thank goodness Guardiola is finally gone.
Quantic Dream,
We got whooped by Tottenham you say, if my memory serves me correctly we lost 1-0. Hardly a whooping.
Now if you want to talk about whooping’s, two 4-1 wins to the Arsenal in the actual season, now that’s what I call a whooping. Not once but twice, now we’re talking.😂👍
@Derek
Yes, definitely the Tottenham preseason game was not that bad but this Real Betis game was awful and from the chances they had, they could have easily put 5 past us.
Quantic Dream,
I hear what you’re saying, but you’ve also got to take pre-season games into context.
Speaking to Hector Bellerin after the game, he said that Betis we’re two games ahead of Arsenal regards the time they’ve been back together.
Also, take into account the amount of changes that Arteta made in that game. A lot of academy players getting some minutes. And when you make that amount of substitutions in a game, it’s bound to have an effect on the rhythm of the team.
Don’t place such importance of pre-season games my friend. They need to be ready for their first Premier League game versus Coventry. If that’s the case and they win their first game. Who’s going to care about pre-season anyway.
I don’t mind Kepa starting Community shield to give everyone a false sense of security ! Ha ha !
Have to say I thought he was a decent investment last season for just £5mn but can see why Chelsea wanted to get rid . I think Meslier should be no 2 now
Thkugh Raya had a good rest due8nv ghe World Cup !
NO!!!! Its a fitness tool. Doesn’t matter a jot.
Yes worrying for conceding 3 goals in the first half and also … the continued from previous page Kepa errors
Winning friendly’s is good. But if you’re going to lose, that’s the time to do it. Friendly’s are all about fine tuning formations, getting the players back in a routine, getting their fitness levels up, and so on.
No one likes to see their team lose, but pre-season is not important where results are concerned. Yes I want to see Arsenal win their remaining pre-season games. But as long as their ready for the Friday night game when they face Coventry at the Emirates, that’s when winning matters.
COME ON YOU GUNNERS, that’s my first one in a few months.😂
As a glorified training exercise,which in effect pre season matches are, it served its purpose and to me highlighted how weak we are in central midfield without Rice, Zubimendi and BG.It also served to cast doubts on the concerns which would arise if Raya was unavailable.
Grandad,
That’s the second good post you’ve put out this morning. Go on, go for the hatrick. 😂👍
Now it’s about getting your fitness back in to your legs and lungs
I would be worried if the game before the weekend we kick off for the season we get a poor performances and that game would be against city in Cardiff
I wouldn’t read to much in to these games running up to the start
As Derek mentioned we lost against the spuds in preseason last year.
That really turned out bad for us and good for them last season
Onwards and upwards
I’m not overly fussed about losing against Betis just like I wasn’t when we beat Girona in the previous game. As has been said in posts above, it’s to get players match fit, that’s all.
I think some fans need to remember the players who were missing before they predict doom and gloom!!
I’m not sure how many players we’ve been linked with sincere the end of the season, but Berta must be clocking up some air miles if he’s spoken to every one of them.
Not sure why Leon has this bee in his bonnet, but I thought he was only carrying out the negotiations, not holding the purse strings?
We didn’t lose out on any player we wanted because of Berta – the club puts a valuation on a player and won’t go any higher.
Perhaps the learnt that from the Mudryk example?
Sad news about Louie Copley who had to be subbed off due to injury. He’s ruptured his ACL.
Herr Drier,
What is it with us and right backs.
Talking of right backs, it’s good to see Tomiyasu back in the premier league at Palace.
If it wasn’t for his injury record, he could have been worth a punt regards covering Saliba, don’t you think?.
Derek, he’s a midfielder that just slotted ina RB for that game.
I did see that Tomi has signed for Palace after having a short trial with them. Good player, shame about the amount of injuries he suffered with us.
I honestly think we have decent cover for Saliba. Mosquera, Timber and White can all cover for him until he returns.
Kepa said he wants to leave. Are we still trying to sell him?…..
The Telegraph: He paid a six figure sum for the education of his mistress from the accounts of UEFA. Double act by Infantino hurting public money and his marriage.
🤔
Extremely worrying. If we have to play without Raya,Timber,Gabriel, Saliba, Rice, Bruno,Odegaard, Eze and Saka in the starting 11 I think we will struggle In games.
Liam,
If that happens the team will be very unlucky, and the medical staff will be doing plenty of overtime. 😂