Arsenal face Real Betis in their latest pre-season friendly as they continue preparations for a Premier League title defence on a day where they moved much closer to sealing the signing of Bruno Guimaraes.
The Gunners take on their Spanish opponents – who finished fifth in LaLiga last season and reached the quarter-finals of the Europa League – at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, hoping to build on a 4-1 thrashing of Girona last time out, where Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz, Max Dowman and new signing Christos Tzolis all scored
Mikel Arteta’s side received a boost earlier today when Brazil international Guimaraes was given permission to travel to Arsenal for a medical ahead of a £75m move from Newcastle United, after both clubs finally agreed a fee. The 28-year-old midfielder looks set to officially join in the next few days.
Arsenal are also continuing their pursuit of Guimaraes’ international team-mate Vinicius Jr, although Real Madrid are said to have offered fresh terms to the Brazilian after his return to training on Tuesday, but Arteta’s immediate focus is getting minutes into his players’ legs ahead of the Community Shield against Manchester City in two weeks’ time, with Betis offering a fascinating test this evening.
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Arsenal 1-3 Real Betis, 53 mins
Lovely play by Betis as Isco gets to the byline and then cleverly backheels to allow Bellerin to whip in a cross but the Arsenal defensive line deals with it.
Arsenal 1-3 Real Betis, 49 mins
This is a lively start by Arsenal and their new-look team. Martinelli immediately gets to the byline and cuts the ball back towards Nelson but it’s scrambled clear by Betis. Vieira then wins a corner with good play, although Betis defend it well.
Isco on for Pablo Fornals for the Spanish side by the way, as their only change
Arsenal 1-3 Real Betis, 47 mins
As promised, here are the seven Arsenal changes.
Gabriel, Marli Salmon, Louie Copley, Fabio Vieira, Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus and Reiss Nelson all come on with Hincapie, Mosquera, White, Nwaneri, Tzolis, Gyokeres and Dowman heading off.
It means only Kepa, Calafiori, Havertz and Lewis-Skelly remain from the starting XI.
Probably most interesting in there is the fact that Brazil starts Gabriel and Gabriel Martinelli are back from their post-World Cup break for their first minutes of pre-season.
KICK-OFF! Arsenal 1-3 Real Betis
Back underway in Dublin. A slew of Arsenal changes at half-time, which I’ll update you on shortly
WATCH: Hincapie pulls one back before Fornals capitalises on Havertz error
Here are the final two goals of that first half. Hincapie headed home to bring Arsenal back into it at 2-1 down but then a Havertz error allowed Fornals to score
HALF-TIME! Arsenal 1-3 Real Betis
And that’s half-time at the Aviva Stadium. A pretty poor half all round from Arsenal.
Pathetic goalkeeping and defending for the first goal, a worldie of a strike for the second and then another mistake being punished for the third. Piero Hincapie did headed home unmarked from six yards but it’s been sloppy from the Gunners.
A glut of changes at half-time from Mikel Arteta, you’d presume.
Arsenal 1-3 Real Betis, 45 mins
A bitter blow for Arsenal just before half-time. Another error and they’ve been punished. It’s been awfully sloppy from the reigning Premier League champions.
There’s a bit of needle in this as well, with Calafiori and Pablo Garcia getting heated. Calafiori held the ball up well and turned Garcia inside out but the Bets man claims he was struck by a flailing arm.
GOAL! Arsenal 1-3 Real Betis (Pablo Fornals, 43 mins)
And now it’s 3-1 to Betis! Former West Ham man Pablo Fornals has a goal to go alongside his two assists.
It’s poor again from Arsenal as Havertz passes straight to Deossa and he picks out Fornals. From there, the midfielder guided the ball into the bottom corner from the edge of the box. Class.
SAVE! Arsenal 1-2 Real Betis, 39 mins
Good from Betis, shifting the ball well and it’s worked to Pablo Garcia on the right of the box. He strikes it first time with his left foot, looking to curl into the far corner, but Kepa down smartly to save.