Kepa Arrizabalaga endured a difficult night as Arsenal lost 3-1 to Real Betis in Dublin, with the goalkeeper at fault during a poor first half for Mikel Arteta’s side.
The Spaniard was beaten for Rodrigo Riquelme’s opener after misjudging the danger, before Arsenal fell 2-0 behind to Nelson Deossa’s long-range strike.
Piero Hincapie briefly reduced the deficit, but Pablo Fornals restored Betis’ two-goal advantage before half-time. The match report from Dublin details Kepa’s involvement in Arsenal’s defensive problems.
Kepa mistake comes at awkward time for Arsenal
Kepa has been given the majority of Arsenal’s early pre-season minutes while David Raya recovers from Spain’s World Cup campaign.
That has offered the 31-year-old a useful opportunity to build sharpness, but the Betis performance was a setback.
It was not his first costly mistake in an Arsenal shirt either. Kepa was heavily criticised after an error in March’s Carabao Cup final defeat by Manchester City, when Arteta selected him ahead of Raya. Sky Sports reported at the time that Jamie Redknapp felt Arteta’s decision to start Kepa had backfired.
There is important context. Kepa is Arsenal’s second-choice goalkeeper and was never signed to displace Raya over the course of a season.
However, Arteta still needs reliable cover when his first choice is unavailable.
Sunday’s friendly against Borussia Dortmund now gives Kepa an immediate opportunity to respond. ReadArsenal’s predicted XI has him continuing in goal while Raya works his way back.
Arsenal were poor collectively against Betis and it would be unfair to place a three-goal defeat solely on their goalkeeper. Their midfield offered too little protection and an unsettled defence was repeatedly exposed.
Kepa’s mistake was still avoidable.
With Manchester City waiting in the Community Shield on 16 August, Arteta will want the errors reduced quickly as Arsenal move towards competitive football.
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