Traffic Delays Arsenal vs. Real Betis Pre-Season Friendly in Dublin

The highly anticipated pre-season friendly between English giants ArsenalTeam·Arsenal and Spanish club Real BetisTeam·Real Betis, held on August 5, 2026, at the Aviva StadiumVenue·Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland, saw its kick-off delayed by 15 minutes. The disruption was attributed to significant traffic congestion that impeded Real BetisTeam·Real Betis' team coach en route to the venue.

Originally scheduled for a 7:30 PM BST start, the match commenced at 7:45 PM BST. ArsenalTeam·Arsenal confirmed the delay through an official statement, clarifying the circumstances to fans and media. "Tonight's game will now kick-off at 7.45pm (UK) due to Real BetisTeam·Real Betis being delayed by traffic," the club announced.

This friendly served as a crucial part of both clubs' preparations for the upcoming 2026/27 season. Real BetisTeam·Real Betis enters the new campaign with considerable momentum, having concluded the 2025/26 La LigaCompetition·La Liga season in an impressive fifth place. This achievement secured them a coveted spot in the UEFA Champions LeagueCompetition·Champions League, marking their first appearance in Europe's premier club competition in 21 years.

ArsenalTeam·Arsenal, meanwhile, is preparing to defend their Premier LeagueCompetition·Premier League title, a championship they clinched in the 2024/25 season for the first time in 22 years. Their ambitions for the 2026/27 season are clear, as articulated by forward Kai HavertzPlayer·Kai Havertz following a recent pre-season victory.

"I think we have to go further. You see other teams getting better, so we have to step up another level again... To be fair, I think we want all the trophies. That's what we're here for."

Prior to facing Real BetisTeam·Real Betis, ArsenalTeam·Arsenal had demonstrated strong form in their pre-season, securing a 4-1 victory against GironaTeam·Girona. Goals in that match came from Kai HavertzPlayer·Kai Havertz, summer signing Christos TzolisPlayer·Christos Tzolis, Max DowmanPlayer·Max Dowman, and Gabriel JesusPlayer·Gabriel Jesus. Tzolis, eager to make an impact, expressed his readiness to contribute.

"I came here ready, with my fitness level and I was happy that I could show it here as well. I want to be myself and to show on the pitch all the passion and desire to win because I really like to win games and to give everything... I'm thinking about how to improve and settle as fast as possible in the club, because I have the opportunity to train directly with the team from the beginning of the season, to play pre-season games and then to go to official games."

Real BetisTeam·Real Betis also arrived in Dublin in good form, having won three of their four pre-season friendly matches, including a notable 4-0 triumph over LyonTeam·Lyon.

Beyond the on-field action, ArsenalTeam·Arsenal faced logistical challenges with their streaming service for pre-season friendlies. Technical difficulties led to the club issuing refunds for fans who had purchased packages for both the GironaTeam·Girona and Real BetisTeam·Real Betis matches. Consequently, the game against Real BetisTeam·Real Betis was not broadcast through the club's official channels.

Looking ahead, ArsenalTeam·Arsenal's competitive season is set to begin with the Community Shield final against Manchester CityTeam·Manchester City on August 16, followed by their Premier LeagueCompetition·Premier League opener against newly-promoted Coventry CityTeam·Coventry City on August 21. Real BetisTeam·Real Betis will kick off their La LigaCompetition·La Liga campaign on August 21 against Real SociedadTeam·Real Sociedad.