Real Betis Balompié S.A.D. is our next preseason opponent and for a reason that I have so far been unable to discover, we are playing them in Dublin. Could it have been arranged so that Andrew can just wander down the road (perhaps, via a familiar hostelry or two) to see his favourite team?
Betis, founded by students from the local polytechnic in 1907, hails from Seville and has a somewhat chequered history. Hence its motto: ¡Viva el Betis masque perda! (Long live Betis even when they lose!) The club’s name derives from Baetis, the Roman name for the region and for the Guadalquiver River that flows through Seville. The prefix ‘Real’ was added in 1914 following patronage from Alfonso XIII after a merger between Betis and Seville Balompié. The team initially played in blue shirts and white shorts but changed to green and white striped shirts matching the Andalusian flag, when the club captain, while studying in Scotland, obtained the material that Celtic used for their shirts but reorientated it to produce stripes rather than hoops.
Betis won their only La Liga title in 1935 (under an Irish coach), three years after becoming the first Andalusian team to play in La Liga after they had won their first Segunda Divisiòn title in 1932. When La Liga resumed after the Spanish Civil War in 1939-40, the club was promptly relegated. Despite one season back in La Liga, decline continued and Betis was relegated to the Tercera Divisiòn where it languished for a decade. Many fans see this period as key to the ‘soul’ of the club during which it became renowned for filling its stadium and for its huge away support, known as the “Green March’. Betis returned to the Segunda Divisiòn in 1954 and to La Liga in 1958-59 peaking in third place in 1964, but subsequently became a ‘yo-yo club’ until consolidating a La Liga place in 1974-75 and winning the Copa del Rey against Athletic Bilbao, 8-7, in 1977, after a 21 penalty shoot-out! The club won a second Copa del Rey in 2005, beating Osasuna 2-1 in extra time and finishing fourth in La Liga to become the first Andalusian club to qualify for the Champions League. However, Betis’ participation was unspectacular, apart from a 1-0 home win over Chelsea. The club finished third in its group and only reached the round of 16 in its subsequent participation in the UEFA Cup.
In the late noughties off-field financial issues rocked Betis but the teens saw the club achieve European qualification several times and under Manuel Pellegrini, who remains their coach, Betis won its third Copa del Rey in 2021 beating Valencia 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw, its first trophy in 17 years. Pellegrini initiated a successful period for Betis, qualifying for the Europa League from its La Liga position for three consecutive seasons then qualifying for the Conference League and reaching the final only to lose to Chelsea 1-0. Betis qualified for this season’s Champions League for the second time in its history through last season’s fifth place finish in La Liga.
Thus, we can expect a sterner test from Betis whose 5th place last season with 60 points and a goal difference of +11 eclipses Girona’s 19th place finish with 41 points and -16 goal difference. A further benchmark, however, is the team that finished above Betis in fourth place with 69 points and a goal difference of +18 – Atlético Madrid, whom we tonked in the League Phase of last season’s Champions League and knocked out in the Semi-Final. Of course, neither of those clubs was within touching distance of La Liga champions Barcelona on 94 points.
Betis’ current first team squad includes several familiar faces. We can expect to see much loved alumnus Hector Bellerín play against Arsenal for the first time; now 31, he is listed as ‘third captain’. Two of the defenders had spells at Leeds United: centre back Diego Llorente, and left back Junior Firpo. Betis also has the much despised, Lo Celso, once of the Marshdwellers, and the tricky, ex-Hammer Pablo Fornals in midfield. Up front Betis has the even more despised Antony, once of Manure. You will probably also recognise Isco who spent 9 years in and around Real Madrid’s first team. This summer, Betis has added defensive midfielder Facundo Bernal from Fluminese for 10.5m Euros, left back Fran Garcia from Real Madrid for 4m Euros and goalkeeper Diego Conde on loan from Villareal.
The Betis starting line up is fairly predictable. Valles remains first choice goalkeeper ahead of newly arrived loanee Conde. The likely back four will comprise Bellerìn, whose overlapping threat remains a key strategy; centre back Llorente organises the back line; Natan, a physical, progressive stopper logged most starts last term; Garcia will replace the departed Rodriguez at left wing back; Bartra and Gomez provide defensive depth. Roca is first choice holding midfielder and the defensive anchor when fullbacks push forward; marquee signing Bernal will join Roca in a double-pivot; Isco, now 34, is the creative heart of the team with licence to roam; Lo Cesco and Fornals are alternatives in midfield providing energy centrally or out wide. Up front, the hapless Antony will hug the right touchline; Cucho Hernandéz, last season’s top scorer with 11 goals, provides the central attacking threat; speed-merchant Abde Essalzouli scored 10 league goals last season and offers raw pace and directness cutting in from the left. Losada and Petit offer striking depth and youthful energy.
Betis play a pragmatic, possession-based style under Pellegrini, typically adopting a 4-2-3-1 formation with a focus on wide overloads using wingers and full-backs, often rapidly switching play to the opposite wing when the opposition has been drawn to one side. Out of possession, they adopt a compact mid-block before initiating high pressure and falling back into a 4-4-1-1 if that pressure is bypassed.
Mikel Arteta gave playing time to 24 of his 27-man squad in Girona, so it’s difficult to predict his starting eleven in Dublin. I thought I saw Martinelli among the players at the end of that game despite not being in the match day squad so he too may get minutes against Betis. However, I expect the starting eleven to be a similar to his choice for the Girona game, I.e:
Kepa
White Mosquera Hincapié Calafiori
MLS Havertz Nwaneri
Dowman Gyökeres Tzolis.
I do suspect Meslier may get the starting gloves ahead of Kepa, given how he excelled in his 30 minutes on Saturday.
Of course, the result doesn’t matter – this is all about developing match fitness, but it would be nice to maintain our winning momentum. How about 3-1 to the good guys?
Excellent preview, Bath. The only things I knew about Betis before was that it as famous in Roman times for the production of olive oil and the amphorae which held them. Now I feel as though I know as much as Pellegrini!
For anyone out there for the game, Cafe En Seine on Dawson Street certainly used to be very good. And an excellent starting point for a bar crawl down to Lansdowne Road.
A most informative preview, Bath.
Separately, I note that Arsene Wenger has broken his silence on the FFE affair. A most diplomatically worded statement, issued through FIFA, saying that scrapping the plan was ‘absolutely necessary’, but not condemning it, and avoiding any mention of Infantino by name.
Thanks Bath, great stuff and I’m good with 3-1. It will be nice to see Hector again,
don’t know why but I was surprised he’s still only 31.
An Ornbomb just dropped. Looks like Bruno’s happening
. https://bsky.app/profile/david-ornstein.bsky.social/post/3msbc2y3ib22x
Yes and here is what Adam Clery thinks Bruno brings https://youtu.be/4vTe1MSqKyk?si=TZVCKJ_LGuK1_hcM
Just for clarification it’s one of Adam’s minions doing the analysis . It’s good stuff
Bath – super preview . We are all guessing about how match fit our likely starters are and how much time they will get . Thanks for the info on Betis
Let’s hope the Olive oil won’t be thrown around too wildly post match in Betis .
Will the last one to leave St James Park please turn off the light?
Seriously if you’re a barcodes fan who stood outside SJP wrapped in Saudi flag and thought your dreams had come true, how will you feel now?
Tonali, Gordon, Howe and now Bruno all gone in a single window. Isak gone a year ago. I mean WTAF?
They came 10th last season.
If you’re stood outside SJP wrapped in a Saudi flag you are absolutely
getting exactly what you deserve 😂😂
OM@9: 👏👏👏
Ned @2
Wenger’s statement was carefully nuanced . He has managed to distance himself from Infantino while not throwing him under the bus. I’ve heard lots of critical comments about his stance . It’s clear that this plan was hatched in secret within FIFA and very few senior people knew of it . But the Arsene we knew might have come out much quicker to condemn it and been directly critical of Infantino .
Thanks for a thorough preview of our upcoming friendly v Real Betis – lots of good information provided. Like OM can’t believe Hector is only 31 – he seemed to be with us years ago and it’s good to see he still having a good career in Seville – there can’t be many nicer places to be having a career. I guess it will be another g@me where established players and yoots will get another run out.
Arsene seems to be playing a cautious approach to the Infantino saga and it’s somewhat surprising he has become so reticent since joining FIFA – he used to be forthright on matters of football integrity prior to this. Maybe he is naturally loyal to his employer- he certainly was in his time with us.
The BBC have written a piece, leading with AW’s statement
but also adding in a couple of other senior FIFA executives.
It gives a reasonable overview of events.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c2k7p4nxdy4o
Infantino will need a new job soon, panto villain this Christmas perhaps,
he definitely has the look for it,
TTG@11: You are correct. AW, the club manager, would have been swift and forthright in condemning FFE and Infantino. His reticence, until now, as a senior FIFA official, is what makes me think that there are deeper currents swirling out of our sight.
Infantino has summoned a FIFA executive council meeting, which suggests that he feels he still controls the whiteboard. Whether he does or not, I have no idea, but having read the Swiss Ramble’s breakdown of FFE and FIFA’s reserves linked to in the previous drinks, FIFA has plenty of dosh on hand for Infantino to try to buy his way out of trouble. He may look like toast to us, but there are still a lot of sticky fingers in FIFA who would prefer the honeypot they know.
It strikes me as unlikely that FFE was hatched as the brainchild of a single representative of FIFA. Someone always knows, at the very least. This won’t unfurl until we find out who knew and when. With the current pattern of journalism being more at the Beano and Dandy than Woodward and Bernstein end of the spectrum, I don’t hold out much hope. Meanwhile, on the premise that turkeys don’t vote for Christmas, I expect Infantino to continue to wield power through a compliant executive.
Cynical? Moi?
On another note, it is not clear as yet how and indeed whether I, or anyone else for that matter, will be able to watch the game tonight and therefore provide a match report. Too late to get a flight I suppose…
In my experience the turkeys regularly vote for Christmas.
Though as we wisely ban politics I won’t give any examples 😂😂
Though I certainly agree that lots of people knew more than they are
admitting to now.
CER @15, the game is being broadcast on Premier Sports – the Irish Sports Network. A one month subscription costs £17.99 and can be cancelled at the end of the month. That’s even cheaper and far less unpleasant than a Ryan Air flight to Dublin and throws in live Scottish Premiership and LaLiga matches during the month too.
Wonderful interview with Hector Bellerin. “Bloody hell, I owe Mikel so much”
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/aug/05/hector-bellerin-arsenal-mikel-arteta-real-betis?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
Thanks C100, it was a great read and I’m glad he seems happy in Seville.
And another link from the Guardian, I think Bruno (we are now on first name terms) was expected but The Guardian has no paywall so I thought I’d send it along
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/aug/05/arsenal-agree-75m-fee-with-newcastle-for-bruno-guimaraes-as-clubs-reach-compromise
More details on the Bruno deal.
https://dailycannon.com/2026/08/newcastle-bruno-arsenal-medical-fee-agreed/
C100
Thanks for the Giuardian link – they do have great sports journalists .
Hector was always very different from the average footballer and had some very exotic girlfriends . Not the Love Island WAGs so many British players end up with . He was very into art, design and fashion. One of my friends was his financial adviser . He obviously didn’t share any details but he did say he was highly intelligent and very socially conscious As for Bruno I thought the revelation that Joorabchian knocked £25 million off the fee may explain why we use him! It’s a flat fee paid in two instalments which is again very different from a lot of the deals we did last year.
He’s a player I’ve never liked but admired as a footballer . He will add a lot of grit and personality to the side and most importantly, take some pressure off Declan
CER@15: The FFE plan was hatched, or at least conceived, at the annual get-together last year of the world’s PE deal makers, the Allen & Co conference in Sun Valley. ‘Unlocking the value’ of anything that moves is what they do.
C100@18: Thanks for the link. Lovely read. Football would be the better if there were more like Hector.
re: Bruno: Transfer shock horror: Seller prices high, buyer bids low, parties settle in the middle.
The reaction of the barcodes fans and Newcastle based journalists is really quite hilarious. They were convinced he was staying until this morning. If he was to be sold they would get £100m for him (remember Tonali went to the Spuds for £92m). Then they were saying that to win trophies he needed to stay at SJP, saying that both clubs only had one trophy in 20 years. That’s right they counted their one league cup but ignored our multiple FA Cups, or the fact that we were Premier League Champions.
So they’ve gone through denial. Anger comes next. I read Woltemade wants out now. That club is being hollowed out.
I mean I get it. I was gutted when Cole went to Chelsea, Nasri to City, van Persie to United. It happens to everyone.
But it is funny after all the Bertie big bollocks stuff when they got rich.
@21 I wonder if Bruno is athletic enough to take much pressure off Declan,
getting up and down the pitch is Declan’s strength not Bruno’s. I’d expect them both to
play quite often but it’s fantastic that we have both plus Zubi and MLS, and then
Eze and Ode as well. And then Mikel Merino and Ethan Nwaneri.
Even in AW’s peak period of collecting small, skillful midfielders I don’t remember
we had such an abundance of talent.
Seems some in Newcastle have already passed from denial to anger.
It was interesting as C100 points out to note Geordie reaction . A block of Newcastle based journalists refused to accept that a deal was nigh and that it was a thing . Did they not wonder why Eddie Howe packed it in? One of them Martin Hardy , who will be on the press show on Sky at 10.30 regularly makes acerbic anti- Arsenal comments. He decided this time last year that Gyokeres was off to Old Trafford given a choice of United or ourselves . Viktor dismissed United immediately.
Newcastle must be pining for the days of Mike Ashley at this rate . They need to find a wealthy regime ready to spread cash around with a less repressive society than Saudi Arabia. I wonder if Kim Jong Un likes football ?
Late as usual – apologies – but great stuff thanks, Bath. Now hoping I can find the match on somewhere as the last thing I read said that our esteemed – not – IT team has given up and the club will be issuing refunds to those who purchased the game(s).
Bruno Guimaraes – I was always disappointed and a bit worried to see him in the Newcastle team to play against us, so I will be delighted to see him turn out for us. He’s capable of being a nasty piece of work – just ask Jorginho – but he’s now our nasty piece of work so it’s all good, no ? Hopefully he will enjoy multiple successes with us and afford some of our other central midfielders a bit more rest and recovery time.
OM@26: Probably the right general theory for Bruno G is that he is a complement to rather than a replacement for Declan Rice. They mostly play on different sides of the field, Bruno G has the forward-passing range that Declan doesn’t, but Declan has the greater defensive prowess of the two. When you factor in the wealth of midfield talent that you list, Arteta will have lots of options to mix and match according to the opposition and game state. I can see both Guimarães and Rice playing 40 games each next season, but together in perhaps no more than half to two-thirds of them. The days of a first XI are gone, and it is now a case of perm 11 from the first XV.
@CER#15 – Beano and Dandy!! C**p, you’re (we’re) old!
Bruno’s f*cking magic
He wears a magic hat
He could have stayed at Newcastle
But he said no f*ck that
I’m off to join the champions
To play with Declan Rice
And when we win the league again
We’ll sing this song all night
Oooooooh
I’m starting to wonder if Sky have much insight on transfer dealings . After a ‘ Breaking News’ update from their man at the Aviva which confirmed Vinny is to stay at Madrid the Ornacle has posted very recently that no such agreement was reached and the meeting broke up without a definite decision .
So make of that what you will .
TTG @33. No surprise there. The only people to believe are Ornstein and Hand of Arsenal.
@26, Matt,
Remember how bare Old Father Arsene’s midfield cupboard was when he had to recall Francis Coquelin from Charlton Athletic to field a credible first eleven?
Days haven’t changed – they’ve inverted and done a double somersault.
Thoroughly enjoyable preview, Bath. Excellent job.
Speaking of young David
https://x.com/david_ornstein/status/2085049778006577507?s=61&t=cVFjCyGkt4y-Ne45LtfqkQ
He may stay. He may go.
We’ve made the best case possible and are actively pursuing the best in the game.
That’s what proper big clubs do, what champions do.
That’s us. Get on board.
I think my biggest worry going into the new season is that Raya gets injured.
I think Perez finds it inconceivable that anyone would say no to Real Madrid, and Vini Jr going to an English team would just heap ridicule on embarrassment for him.
Meanwhile, we appear to be 3-1 down against Bettis.
We are indeed losing 3-1 to Betis and are now at the stage of subbing off some of the substitutes. I share C100’s concern about Raya . Kepa has made a huge blooper tonight and Meslier has previous .
The Spuds got hold of Dubravka who is a sound second choice . The Barcodes are getting rid of Pope having signed two keepers . Might he consider being deputy to Raya and Cup keeper?
We have now lost 3-1 to Betis, and Kepa was not the only one making defensive bloopers, I read.
Good cover for Raya is a legitimate concern. Devilishly difficult to find someone both good enough and willing to be second fiddle. Plus, even Cup keepers don’t get anything like enough games to keep them match-sharp for when needed. Meslier may come through. He was regarded as one of the most promising keepers in Europe before he joined Leeds. Then his confidence got shot through. If Inaki Cana and Arteta can restore that, then there is a potentially a top keeper there.
All sorts of unpleasant FIFA-related things are crawling into the light, I read. Morocco has been offered the 2030 World Cup final that had been pencilled in for the Bernabeu in Madrid in return for their support for the president in his hour of need. The head of Jordan’s FA alleges that US visas were denied to some Jordanian officials at the last World Cup in retaliation for Jordan holding out from writing a letter committing its vote to Infantino’s re-election next March. There was also an African confederation proxy spokesman I heard on the BBC World Service this morning doing a hatchet job on UEFA and praising Infantino for all the money he has sent African member associations’ way.
I would also have liked to believe an online comment left on the FT site from someone claiming his sister was an official of an African association and had already been looking for the new car she had been intending to get out of her association’s $20 million ‘upfront payment’. Probably a complete fabrication, but it rings true.
And yet:
Infantino remains Fifa president after executive meeting
Gianni Infantino will remain as Fifa president after he received the backing of senior executives in a meeting in Morocco on Wednesday.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/clyq3el5gkqo
He did have control of the whiteboard after all.
https://inside.fifa.com/organisation/media-releases/leadership-constructive-positive-talks-rabat-morocco
Following a meeting in Rabat, Morocco, the FIFA Secretary General and members of the FIFA Management Board in attendance reaffirmed their full support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino, as the only official elected by the 211 FIFA Member Associations. In turn, the FIFA President reiterated his full support for the FIFA Secretary General and the FIFA Administration for their necessary and outstanding work in the delivery of his vision.
I have only seen the goals and the good news is that Tzolis can
take a decent corner. The bad news is there seems to have been a
nasty injury for young Louie Copley, MA was worried afterwards.
Fingers crossed for him that it is not too serious.
Best of luck to Norgaard whose move to Everton has now been
confirmed.
Also from the statement:
t was agreed that FIFA will no longer tolerate any attacks on its integrity, good governance and due process and will take all necessary measures to protect and safeguard its name and reputation.
So, not another word from anyone that anything untoward or morally distasteful had happened.
So far we have basically changed Norgaard for Guimaraes and Leo
for Tzolis at a net spend of about 90m (complete guess).
Insane in the real world to me but just market rates in football,
I’d still like another attacker and don’t mind a pivot to Barcola
if the Vini thing doesn’t work out.
Sends in a hopeful cross in case that nice Mr Kepa misses it….
Though I still think that nice Mr Kepa is a better option than
Dubravka and for that matter Pope, who is not a bad old school
keeper but we’re not in the old school anymore.
Empty net 1-0!
Matt
Ned makes a very important point about the difficulty of finding a second keeper . Two seasons ago we were about to sign Joan Garcia but he got cold feet about his prospects behind Raya . He was in Spain’s squad in the World Cup and starts for Barcelona . On deadline day Edu pivoted to a conveniently free client of Joorabchian’s , Bournemouth’s Neto.
He played one game at Girona in the Champions League and frightened the life out of us all. Kepa seemed a sounder choice for minor cup ties but was found wanting at Wembley in the Carabao.
It’s hard to get a keeper who has the same attributes as your main one who would be willing to come . A few seasons ago I asked Bob Wilson who he would replace Leno with and he said Pope. He’s not the modern style sweeper keeper that Raya is but let’s hope Ned is right and Cena can restore Meslier – according to Leeds friends there is a lot of restoration to do after he was for a long while lauded as an outstanding prospect
Well in for the half-ton, TTG.
TTG,
I certainly wouldn’t argue with Bob Wilson about keepers! Or Ned’s point about keeping match sharpness.
And I do agree with you that Pope is good but he is just not good enough (from what I’ve seen of him) with his passing and for me that is a big No when it comes to playing for this Arsenal side, too risky. Personally, I’m not worried about Kepa as I don’t think we can find a better back-up and to be honest I am a little surprised that Kepa seems to be staying.
Agree with Ned @42 on Meslier.
And a fine half-ton 😉
Countryman@38. This.
I dunno what will happen with Vini Jnr, but our club’s ambition is fantastic to see. If we don’t get this one over the line, we’ll go again. We’re now officially in the market for the best players in the game.
I’m not sure HandOfArsenal is as reliable as he used to be. I’ve seen suggestions the account has been taken over by someone different to whoever started it. I’m not on Twitter so don’t see enough to know, but I don’t think he used to do collaboration stories with other accounts (some of which seem dubious to me). And the tone of the messages looks different. His recent assertion that we’d agreed personal terms with Vini but that Roc Nation would deny it doesn’t seem at all like the style when the account opened. Strange.
No thanks, Nick Pope. He can’t keep Ramsdale out of a team. Can’t pass. Not a bad keeper who could definitely be a PL number one at some clubs, but completely unsuited to our style.
Meslier looks fine to me. Apparently he had a bad half a season, got dropped and is now rubbish. He’s looked good when I’ve seen him play, and has no previous Arsenal baggage. Kepa is okay but any mistake gets jumped on by fans because of his history. If we get an offer for him then I’d take it.
I don’t think Arsenal have ever tried to sign a player I like less than Bruno G. When it comes to my PL Allstar Least Likeable 11, he’s been one of the first names on the team sheet for years now. Petulant, nasty, snide, entitled cheat who is perfectly happy to try to hurt fellow professionals. The captain and template for a Newcastle team who are the most cynical in the league and yet who magically go under the radar as The Arsenal get called out for our fumbling efforts to match the Dark Arts of the past masters from Geordieland.
Even watching him play against other clubs I’ve often found myself thinking how much I dislike the guy.
That said, I’m even surprised myself how keen I am on this signing. He’s a fantastic player who offers exactly what we need to add in midfield. He’s won little of note and is coming to us because he wants to win trophies. Psychologically, having a top player who is yet to win the PL strikes me as an excellent addition to our group of champions. QSG are far more odious than Bruno, and we want him to help us beat them. The goal has to be establishing ourselves at the very top of the game by winning the biggest prizes. He will help with that, and we’ll have to hope a bit of Arsenal class rubs off on him (although more likely he’ll get a string of red cards that he doesn’t understand as he’s been doing that crap at Newcastle for years without any sort of punishment!)
I also quite like that we are just leaning into the fact that no-one likes us anyway. Why not buy a guy who is hated by everyone apart from his own fans? That’s pretty much the fate of anyone who signs for Arsenal, so it’s good to get someone who knows the lie of the land.
As others have said, once he becomes our horrible bastard I’ll happily cheer him on.
GSD @56, my sentiments exactly, sir.
Meanwhile in the land of FIFA, the fascist nature of the regime is exposed by the news Ned brought overnight. George Orwell should have penned a book exposing its methods.
Oh!
He did!
>>>>>>>>>>>>