Arsenal vs Real Betis LIVE
Arsenal paid the price for a sloppy defensive performance as they slumped to defeat against Real Betis. The Gunners conceded three times in a surprisingly poor first half showing, with former West Ham attacking midfielder Pablo Fornals one of the beneficiaries for Manuel Pellegrini’s side.
After weathering the early storm, Betis took the lead when Rodrigo Riquelme was left unmarked at the back post for a simple tap-in after Kepa Arrizabalaga had fumbled at a corner. If the Arsenal goalkeeper was at fault for Betis’ opener, there was nothing he could do about their second. Nelson Deossa was afforded far too much space just outside the area and unleashed an unstoppable effort into the top corner.
Piero Hincapie was on hand to reduce the deficit, benefitting from a Valles mistake at a corner, but Fornals restored Betis’ two-goal lead shortly before the break as he passed the ball into the net after Kai Havertz had lost possession cheaply in midfield. Follow Arsenal vs Real Betis back below with Standard Sport's dedicated match blog.
Arsenal vs Real Betis latest news
- GOAL! Fornals restores two-goal Betis lead
- GOAL! Hincapie pulls one back for Arsenal
- GOAL! Deossa stunner doubles Betis lead
- GOAL! Kepa error gifts Real Betis early lead
FULL-TIME
21:37 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
And there goes the final whistle, defeat for Arsenal against Real Betis.
Arsenal 1-3 Real Betis
21:36 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
90+1 min: Jesus shoots wide from an acute angle, doesn’t matter as the flag was raised against Vieira in the build-up.
Arsenal 1-3 Real Betis
21:34 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
90 min: Three minutes of added time.
Arsenal 1-3 Real Betis
21:32 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
88 min: Antony wasn’t at Man United for long, but every touch he makes is greeted by boos.
Arsenal 1-3 Real Betis
21:29 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
85 min: Two more Betis changes as Morante and Gomez replace Riquelme and Bernal.
Arsenal 1-3 Real Betis
21:24 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
80 min: Jesus is in but Llorente gets across to snuff out the danger by standing his ground.
Arsenal 1-3 Real Betis
21:22 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
78 min: CHANCE!
Bellerin gets in down the right and pulls the ball back into a dangerous area for Riquelme but he is put off by Julienne.
Arsenal 1-3 Real Betis
21:20 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
76 min: Three more Arsenal changes as Gabriel, Martinelli and Nwaneri are replaced by Clarke, O’Neill and Kabia.
30 minutes into the legs of the Brazilian duo.
Arsenal 1-3 Real Betis
21:17 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
73 min: A triple Real Betis change, and interesting ones at that.
Antony, Llorente and Firpo - all with Premier League experience - replace Pablo Garcia, Bartra and Fran Garcia.
Arsenal 1-3 Real Betis
21:14 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
70 min: Arsenal threaten but Nelson is crowded out as he tried to find space for a shot.
Arsenal 1-3 Real Betis
21:13 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
69 min: Lovely bit of skill from Riquelme to skip past Julienne but his cross doesn’t match it as Mesiler makes a comfortable claim.
Arsenal 1-3 Real Betis
21:11 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
67 min: Arsenal beat the Betis offside trap as Nwaneri lifts the ball over the top for Martinelli and he picks out Jesus who shoots wide.
Arsenal 1-3 Real Betis
21:09 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
65 min: Just like that, Betis spring to life as within ten passes Bellerin is crossing for Isco and the midfielder attempts a cheeky back-flick which Meslier reads well.
Arsenal 1-3 Real Betis
21:08 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
64 min: Apart from that early opening for Nwaneri, this second half has lacked tempo. Gunners yet to test Valles despite an experienced front three plus the addition of Vieira.
Seeing plenty of the ball but not hurting Betis.
Arsenal 1-3 Real Betis
21:05 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
62 min: Second Arsenal attack in a matter of moments that breaks down because of an offside flag. It’s poor play from Nelson and then Jesus as they just needed to look straight down the line.
Salmon is booked for bringing down Riquelme before the Gunners make a triple change.
Kepa, Lewis-Skelly and Calafiori make way for Meslier, Ibrahim and Ogunnaike.
Arsenal 1-3 Real Betis
21:02 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
59 min: Three more Arsenal changes are imminent.
Arsenal 1-3 Real Betis
20:59 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
55 min: Huge disappointment for Copley as despite getting back to his feet, he is helped off the pitch and replaced by Julienne.
Arsenal 1-3 Real Betis
20:57 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
54 min: Play is stopped for Copley to receive treatment. The youngster’s studs got caught in the ground, it looks a bad one.
Arsenal 1-3 Real Betis
20:56 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
53 min: I can confirm that Isco is still a delight to watch. Lovely back-heel to link up with Bellerin down the right and Arsenal manage to survive via some desperate defending.
Arsenal 1-3 Real Betis
20:55 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
51 min: Nice passing sequence from Arsenal but the move is brought to a half before Nwaneri dives in and concedes a free-kick.
Arsenal 1-3 Real Betis
20:51 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
47 min: Confirmation of the Arsenal changes.
A heap of changes to start the second half...
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) August 5, 2026
↩️ Hincapie, Tzolis, Havertz, Gyokeres, Dowman, Mosquera, White
🔛 Gabriel, Martinelli, Vieira, Jesus, Nelson, Salmon, Copley
🟡 1-3 🟢 (46) pic.twitter.com/yxynckfaGL
LIVE: Arsenal vs Real Betis
20:50 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
46 min: Isco is on for Real Betis but it’s Arsenal attempting a fast start as Jesus releases Nwaneri down the left-hand side, he delays the cross to Nelson before Vieira’s effort is deflected behind for a corner.
KICK-OFF!
20:48 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Back underway in Dublin.
Arsenal 1-3 Real Betis
20:48 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
SEVEN changes for Arsenal during the break.
Only Lewis-Skelly, Calafiori, Kepa and Nwaneri are staying on.
Fan reaction: Nwaneri's performance
20:47 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Nwaneri is not taking his chance.
— Big Ace (@tivnande) August 5, 2026
In the absence of Ødegaard,Eze and the other CMs that are missing, I expected Ethan Nwaneri to really put on a show for Arteta, stake his claim in this squad.
If he comes on in the second 45 he has to grab this game by the scruff of the neck
Fan thoughts: Is Vini Jr watching?
20:46 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
If @vinijr is watching this @Arsenal game .. he will never sign for us! Awful defending.
— Robert Rams MBE (@robertrams1) August 5, 2026
Fan reaction: Saliba impact
20:44 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
This could be an insight into what no Saliba looks like for the first months of the season.. embarrassing defending Arsenal!
— Liam (@liamp8787) August 5, 2026
Arsenal 1-3 Real Betis
20:41 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
A fine strike from Pablo Fornals to restore Real Betis’ two-goal lead.
"It's so so easy!" 🎙️
— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) August 5, 2026
The former West Ham man Pablo Fornals puts Real Betis 3-1 up against Arsenal 🌴🔨 pic.twitter.com/iyBeyS1nHd
Arsenal 1-3 Real Betis
20:38 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Arsenal have had chances from open play, but their goal has come from a corner.
Again, poor goalkeeping to allow Piero Hincapie a simple header.
Normal service is resumed with a Gunners goal from the corner 👏
— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) August 5, 2026
Piero Hincapié gives the @Arsenal fans reason to celebrate! 🔴 pic.twitter.com/b7h979i0Gv
Arsenal 1-3 Real Betis
20:36 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Nothing Kepa could do about this strike from Nelson Deossa.
Nelson Deossa...what a hit! 😱😱
— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) August 5, 2026
Real Betis double their lead over Arsenal with a stunning strike and Mikel Arteta doesn't look happy 🌴 pic.twitter.com/4J5QnjOury
Arsenal 1-3 Real Betis
20:34 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Kepa will not want to see this goal back any time soon.
Real Betis strike first at the Aviva! 🌴
— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) August 5, 2026
Riquelme takes advantage of poor Arsenal defending at the corner to open the scoring 👀 pic.twitter.com/1ubVDayElP
HALF-TIME
20:32 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Arsenal 1-3 Real Betis
Work to do for the Gunners in the second half.
Arsenal 1-3 Real Betis
20:31 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
45 min: Just the one minute of stoppage time to be played at the end of the first half as Arsenal win a free-kick.
GOAL! Arsenal 1-3 Real Betis | Pablo Fornals ‘43
20:30 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
43 min: Arsenal the makers of their own demise as Kai Havertz sloppily gives the ball away in midfield and Pablo Fornals passes the ball into the net.
Take nothing away from the finish.
Arsenal 1-2 Real Betis
20:28 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
42 min: Frustration spilling over for Nwaneri as he is bumped by Bernal. Second time the Arsenal youngster has been involved in some sort of conflict.
Arsenal 1-2 Real Betis
20:26 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
40 min: It should be 3-1 as sloppy defending from Arsenal once again sees Pablo Fornals play in Pablo Garcia and he tries to pick out the far corner with his left foot, but Kepa makes a fairly decent save.
Arsenal 1-2 Real Betis
20:24 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
38 min: Gyokeres and Bartra do battle for the ball and the decision goes in favour of the Arsenal striker. Free-kick in a decent position, think Tzolis and Gyokeres fancy their chances.
Tzolis touches the ball for Gyokeres to strike, but the effort is charged down by Betis.
Arsenal 1-2 Real Betis
20:20 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
33 min: Some game this! Betis look to restore their two-goal advantage but Kepa dives to his left to keep out Riquelme’s deflected effort.
GOAL! Arsenal 1-2 Real Betis | Piero Hincapie ‘32
20:18 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
32 min: GAME ON!
Gunners back in the game thanks to a trusty set-piece. It’s not great goalkeeping from Valles as he flaps at the cross and Piero Hincapie has a simple header.
Arsenal 0-2 Real Betis
20:17 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
31 min: Dowman gets away from Fran Garcia and picks out Nwaneri’s run into the box but the ball deflects off the youngster and goes out for a goal kick.
On the opposite side, Pablo Garcia makes a fine last ditch tackle to prevent Tzolis from having a shot on target.
GOAL! Arsenal 0-2 Real Betis | Nelson Deossa ‘26
20:13 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
26 min: WOW!
WHAT A STRIKE FROM DEOSSA!
The Uruguayan thumps a long-range effort into the top corner, no chance for Kepa.
Arsenal 0-1 Real Betis
20:09 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
24 min: Arsenal have been the much better side in the last five minutes. Dowman attempts a solo run but is eventually crowded out before an attempted reverse pass for Havertz is cut out.
Arsenal 0-1 Real Betis
20:07 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
21 min: The free-kick is left to Nwaneri but his shot hits the top of the Real Betis wall. Arsenal manage to retain possession but are forced all the way back to Kepa to restart.
Arsenal 0-1 Real Betis
20:06 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
20 min: Good centre-forward play from Gyokeres, uses his body to win a free-kick from Natan. Chance for Arsenal here.
Arsenal 0-1 Real Betis
20:05 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
19 min: CHANCE!
Valles, inside his own six-yard box, passes the ball straight to Tzolis but the Arsenal summer signing can’t bring the ball under control and the Real Betis keeper is able to make amends, avoiding a penalty claim too.
Arsenal 0-1 Real Betis
20:03 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
17 min: Arsenal struggling to keep the ball, Mosquera and Nwaneri with some rushed clearances, latter concedes a corner which is dealt with far better this time.
Arsenal 0-1 Real Betis
20:00 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
14 min: Ooooh, Pablo Garcia with a nutmeg on Tzolis!
Arsenal 0-1 Real Betis
19:59 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
13 min: As you would expect, Real Betis’ confidence has grown since that goal. Popping the ball around much more comfortably now and Pablo Garcia is proving a handful for the Arsenal defence.
GOAL! Arsenal 0-1 Real Betis | Rodrigo Riquelme ‘9
19:55 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
9 min: GOALLLLL
Awful defending from Arsenal at the corner, Kepa comes for the ball but gets nowhere near it and Rodrigo Riquelme has the easiest chance he will ever get.
Arsenal 0-0 Real Betis
19:54 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
8 min: P. Garcia cuts inside onto his left foot and takes on the shot, Kepa gets both hands to it and Mosquera puts the ball behind for a corner.
