The Spaniards took the lead inside ten minutes when a corner went all the way through to Riquelme at the far post, and a cracking shot into the top corner from 30 yards by Nelson Deossa made it 2-0. 

Piero Hincapie pulled one back for us from a superb Christos Tzolis corner, but another long-range goal – this time from former West Ham man Pablo Fornals – restored Betis’s two-goal lead before half-time. 

That was to prove the end of the scoring, but 25 players were able to get more minutes in the legs as we continued our preparation ahead of the new season. 

BETIS BITE FIRST

The 51,000-capacity stadium was packed, with Gooners making up almost the entirety of the crowd, so it was a real home from home for us, and after a fantastic rendition of The Angel, we looked to set about our business early on. 

Naming the same side that had beaten Girona 4-1 at the weekend, Mikel Arteta’s men nearly took the lead inside the opening few seconds. A break down the left released Kai Havertz, and he in turn supplied Viktor Gyokeres inside the area. The Swede took a touch to move it onto his right foot, but goalkeeper Alvaro Valles saved well at close range to deny him. 

It was the Spaniards who took the lead though. Pablo Garcia tried his luck from long range, needing a full stretch save from Kepa Arrizabalaga. From the resulting corner, Riquelme found himself unmarked at the far post to tuck in. The cross had eluded goalkeeper and defenders alike to fall at Riquelme’s feet.

 DEOSSA DOUBLES LEAD

Christos Tzolis was alert enough to intercept a stray pass from the Betis keeper inside the box, but he couldn’t quite work the ball through to Gyokeres on the stretch. 

We were struggling to create many chances, and it was the Spanish side that doubled their lead before the half hour. Deossa had plenty of time to work the ball onto his left foot, but nearly 30 yards from goal there seemed to be little danger. However, he unleashed a rocket of a shot that gave Arrizabalaga no chance as it flew into the top corner. 

 HINCAPIE HEADS IN

We needed to respond, and an excellent pass from Max Dowman to find Tzolis led to our goal. Tzolis did well to get his shot away inside the area, but it was deflected past the near post for a corner by a desperate lunge from the defender.

Tzolis himself took it, sending in a perfect inswinger over the keeper for Hincapie to head home virtually under the crossbar. 

Before the break, though, Betis restored their two-goal advantage. Kai Havertz gave the ball away in his own half and Fornals expertly found the bottom corner down to Arrizabalaga’s right from outside the area.

 HALF-TIME RESHUFFLE

The last time we played in this stadium was for a Europa League fixture against Dundalk in 2020, but that was played behind closed doors during the coronavirus pandemic. This occasion was completely different, with Gooners flooding the Irish capital.

Hector Bellerin was still an Arsenal player back then, but tonight he lined up at right back for Betis, who will be playing in the Champions League this season after finishing fifth in La Liga. They had already won four times in pre-season, and they continued to impress after the break. 

We made seven changes at half-time, including a first taste of pre-season action for Gabriel Magalhaes and Gabriel Martinelli. Louie Copley also came on at right back, but the youngster lasted only 10 minutes before being forced off with injury in what was clearly a distressing moment for the 19-year-old.

Illan Meslier made a smart low stop to keep out Isco’s improvised finish in front of goal before Gabriel Jesus missed the target following Martinelli’s burst into the box and cutback.

That was the last of the goalmouth action though, and attention now turns to Emirates Stadium, where our next two pre-season fixtures will be played. 

 WHAT'S NEXT

We return to the UK to play two matches at Emirates Stadium. On Sunday we face Borussia Dortmund in the Emirates Cup, before playing Como next Wednesday. We then take on Manchester City at the Millennium Stadium in the Community Shield on Sunday, August 16. The Premier League gets underway at home to Coventry City on Friday, August 21. 

TEAM NEWS

Arsenal: Arrizabalaga (Meslier 62), White (Copley 46, Julienne 56), Mosquera (Salmon 46), Hincapie (Gabriel 46, Clarke 76), Calafiori (Ogunnaike 62), Lewis-Skelly (Ibrahim 62), Havertz (Vieira 46), Nwaneri (O’Neill 76), Dowman (Nelson 46), Tzolis (Martinelli 46, Kabia 76), Gyokeres (Jesus 46).

Substitutes not used: Ranson, Agustien, Harriman-Annous.