Arsenal's preparations for their Premier League title defence suffered their first setback after a costly 3-1 defeat to Real Betis at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium, with defensive mistakes and midfield vulnerabilities giving manager Mikel Arteta plenty to analyse before competitive football returns.

The defeat was Arsenal’s first loss of pre-season and came after a promising start to their summer schedule, but the performance highlighted areas where the champions may still need improvement—particularly in midfield control, defensive concentration and squad depth.

Arteta admitted his players were frustrated after the result, saying the squad was "fuming" after failing to meet the standards expected of them.

For Arsenal, the result is less about the scoreline and more about the warning signs it produced.

Kepa mistake sets tone for difficult night

Arsenal fell behind in the ninth minute after goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga failed to deal with a Real Betis corner, allowing Rodrigo Riquelme to score unmarked at the far post.

The error was particularly frustrating for Arsenal because defensive organisation from set pieces has been one of the foundations of their recent success under Arteta.

Betis doubled their advantage before half-time when Nelson Deossa produced a powerful long-range strike, leaving Arsenal chasing the game.

New signing Christos Tzolis gave Arsenal hope when his inswinging corner was converted by Piero Hincapie, but Betis restored their two-goal advantage before the break after Pablo Fornals capitalised on a misplaced Kai Havertz pass.

The three goals conceded came from moments Arsenal will want to eliminate before the Premier League season begins.

Midfield test highlights need for reinforcement

One of the biggest talking points from the match was Arsenal’s midfield balance.

With several key players still unavailable following the World Cup, Arteta started with Myles Lewis-Skelly, Ethan Nwaneri and Kai Havertz in midfield.

Lewis-Skelly showed confidence in possession, completing 70 of his 74 passes, but Arsenal lacked the defensive protection and control normally provided by players such as Declan Rice.

The performance reinforced why Arsenal have been pursuing Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes.

The club has reportedly agreed a £75 million deal for the Brazilian midfielder, although the transfer was not officially completed at the time of the match.

Guimaraes’ arrival would provide Arsenal with additional physicality, creativity and experience as they prepare to compete across multiple competitions.

Real Betis expose areas Arsenal must fix

Pre-season defeats rarely determine how a season unfolds, but they often reveal problems managers need to address.

Against Betis, Arsenal struggled with:

• Defensive concentration during set pieces.
• Giving possession away in dangerous areas.
• Maintaining control when their strongest midfield options were unavailable.
• Turning possession into clear attacking opportunities.

The match also showed the challenge of maintaining standards after winning the Premier League title.

Opponents are expected to approach Arsenal with greater intensity, and Arteta will need his squad to handle the pressure of being the team everyone wants to beat.

Arteta sees positives in defeat

Despite the loss, Arteta viewed the result as a useful learning experience rather than a crisis.

"It’s always good when you lose a match in pre-season; it creates a bit more fire in the belly," the Arsenal manager said.

He added that mistakes made during friendly matches are preferable to similar errors occurring during competitive fixtures.

The Arsenal boss also praised the importance of balancing fitness preparation with the demand for high standards.

What happens next for Arsenal?

Arsenal will now continue their pre-season preparations as Arteta looks to reintegrate returning players and finalise his squad ahead of the Premier League campaign.

The return of key figures including Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard should strengthen the team, while potential new arrivals could further improve depth.

The defeat against Betis provides an early reminder that defending a Premier League title may require even greater consistency than winning one.