On 11 March 1935 he became brigadier general, taking command of the XIX "Gavinana II" Infantry Brigade, and led this unit on the Eritrean Front during the Second Italo-Ethiopian War.

Arisio immediately protested to the General Staff in Rome for Kesselring's behavior, but he was answered that German troops acted independently of Italian commands.

Feeling betrayed and humiliated by the armistice, he assured the German command that he would continue to cooperate, giving the order to hand over heavy weapons so as to avoid the complete disarmament of his troops.

At 1:00 he therefore gave orders to this effect to the three dependent army corps (i.e. to counteract, even with the use of weapons, the disarmament attempts made by German troops) but left Potenza, moving to Francavilla Fontana along with much of his staff.

Arisio made contact with the advancing Allies and continued to hold command of the Seventh Army for some time after the armistice, officially leaving it on January 19, 1944.