Before the friendly against Real Betis, Arsenal were made to pay for an uninspired display as they slipped to a 3-1 defeat in Dublin.
The Gunners had begun their summer preparations on a high, cruising to a convincing 4-1 victory over Girona in front of their fans.
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Real Betis went ahead in the ninth minute after goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga rushed off his line but failed to deal with a corner during Wednesday’s preseason clash at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium.
The Premier League champions conceded the opener when Kepa, whose £71 million transfer from Athletic Club to Chelsea in 2018 still stands as the highest fee ever paid for a goalkeeper, misjudged the delivery, allowing the ball to travel across the face of goal before Rodrigo Riquelme fired home.
Mosquera and Kepa mistake leads to goal
Is there a chance White shifts to CB and Timber plays RB?
I think Calafiori is a more worthy pick than Mosquera! pic.twitter.com/dJhkb5UnbI
— ♛ () (@FPLConQueror) August 5, 2026
“He came into traffic and lacked conviction,” former Ireland international Damien Delaney told Premier Sports, dismissing Kepa’s claims that he had been fouled.
“He’s got to be stronger there. He gets nudged off that ball and it’s an absolute calamitous start for Kepa… he makes an atrocious error.”
Kepa featured just once in the Premier League last season, starting Arsenal’s final league fixture at Crystal Palace after the title had already been secured.
With first-choice goalkeeper David Raya taking a break following Spain’s World Cup triumph, Kepa was handed his second straight start of the club’s preseason campaign.
