Arsenal will continue their pre-season schedule this week with a friendly against Real Betis, marking the second stop on their European tour after a training camp in Catalonia. The match, scheduled for a 7.30pm BST kick-off on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, will be played at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
Mikel Arteta's squad head into the fixture still building match fitness after their earlier training block, while Manuel Pellegrini's Betis side arrive with a head start in preparations, having returned to training as far back as the weekend of the World Cup final. The Spanish club have been in strong form during the summer, winning four of their five friendlies so far, including an impressive victory over Lyon.
The fixture will not be broadcast live on UK television, though Arsenal supporters can follow the action through the club's own website and app. A pay-per-view option is available for £6.99, while fans can also purchase a bundle covering the entirety of Arsenal's pre-season campaign for £14.99.
On the team news front, Arsenal could see returns for Gabriel and Gabriel Martinelli, both of whom missed the previous friendly against Girona after arriving late to pre-season training. Christian Norgaard, who is reportedly closing in on a switch to Everton, is unlikely to be involved, while captain Martin Odegaard is not expected to feature as he only returns to the group this week following his post-World Cup break.
Several other first-team players remain unavailable due to extended holidays after international duty, including David Raya, Martin Zubimendi, Mikel Merino, Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze. Jurrien Timber is also considered a doubt for the match.
Real Betis will field a squad containing several familiar names to English football followers, including Junior Firpo, Pablo Fornals, Isco and former Manchester United winger Anthony. The game carries extra significance for Hector Bellerin, who will face Arsenal for the first time since departing the club in 2021, making for an emotional reunion with his former employers.
Despite Betis' encouraging pre-season form and the defensive questions they are expected to pose, Arsenal are still considered favourites given the depth of talent in Arteta's squad. Young players such as Max Dowman, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Christos Tzolis are among those expected to be given opportunities to impress as the Gunners look to build match sharpness ahead of the new season.
Betting markets reflect Arsenal as clear favourites for the encounter, with the hosts priced at 4/7 to win, compared to 19/5 for a Betis victory and 3/1 for a draw.
Notably, this will be the first-ever meeting between the two clubs at any level, adding a fresh element to what is otherwise a standard pre-season fixture. For Arsenal, the emphasis remains on conditioning and cohesion as the squad gradually reassembles following the World Cup, while Betis will look to continue their encouraging summer form against a Premier League heavyweight.
Based on reporting from Standard Sport.