Arsenal 1 Real Betis 3: Angry Arteta knows Arsenal doesn’t have back-to-back title winning squad after Betis horror show

MIKEL ARTETA’S touchline frustrations in Dublin showed that he knows Arsenal cannot cruise to another title with his current squad. Cameos for players like Reiss Nelson and Fabio Viera, were reminders that the Gunners boss might have to bang down the door to bring in more talent this summer. Rodrigo Riquelme gave Arsenal a shock inside ten minutes Credit: Sportsfile Nelson Deossa doubles Betis’ lead in Dublin as Arsenal feared the worst Credit: Getty Arsenal looked lacklustre as they were thumped by Real Betis in their first meaningful pre-season match. Their behind-closed-doors friendly against MK Dons was a glorified training session, while Saturday’s 4-1 win over Girona was a simple task against second-tier opposition. Sign up for the Arsenal newsletter Thank you! Last night’s game, though, was a real test against a fellow Champions League side—a test they failed. There is grace in the fact that Arsenal are without a host of World Cup stars, including Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and the injured William Saliba. But if this match was anything to go by, Arteta will be desperate to raise the bar with some more additions. The imminent arrival of Bruno Guimaraes – who is set to join in a £75m move – will do just that, but there is plenty of work to be done. Reports suggest that Vinicius Junior has been offered a more lucrative contract by Real Madrid, which could scupper Arsenal’s ambitious move for the superstar. Kepa Arrizabalaga, another example of a player who falls below the required level, was at fault for Real Betis’ first goal. Most read in Sport BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS Piero Hincapie found the back of the net as Arsenal looked to make up lost ground Credit: PA The Spaniard flapped at a corner leaving Riquelme wide open at the back post to poke home with ease. Kepa was partially to blame for the second goal, too. The Spaniard gifted Betis the ball with a mis-hit clearance, allowing Nelson Deossa to unleash a stunning long-range effort into the top corner. Arteta’s newest investment, Christos Tzolis, provided a glimmer of hope for the new campaign when his perfect corner landed on the head of Piero Hincapie to pull one back for the Gunners. But another individual error, this time a sloppy Kai Havertz pass, gave Betis the ball again before half-time, allowing Pablo Fornals to fire a third past Kepa. Mass changes in the second half disrupted the tempo of the game as Arsenal hobbled their way to a 3-1 defeat. But it was a stark reminder that if Arteta wants to hit a “different dimension” this season, as he has suggested, then superstar recruitment is a necessity. Comment now