Bernardo Silva delivered a scathing critique of Arsenal’s title credentials on Sunday night, criticizing their tactics, time-wasting, and trophy record following Manchester City’s 2-2 draw against Arsenal at the Etihad. The match saw Arsenal score two first-half goals after Erling Haaland’s opener for City, and Leandro Trossard was sent off just before half-time. City dominated the second half, playing primarily in Arsenal’s penalty area, and it took until the 98th minute for John Stones to equalize in what was a heated and contentious match. Bernardo Silva spoke to TNT Brazil post-match, expressing his frustrations about Arsenal’s approach and the refereeing decisions.
Bernardo Silva said “There was only one team that came to play football. The other came to play to the limits of what was possible to do and allowed by the referee, unfortunately. But at the end, we got a draw, the best we could get considering the context of the last moments of the match. We’re not happy as we wanted the three points, but personally, I’m happy with the way we came to play and faced the game. I’m glad we always enter the pitch to try to win every match.”
Bernardo also criticized referee Michael Oliver for decisions that left City aggrieved, including a controversial moment when Rodri was forced off injured:
Bernardo Silva said “It all started in the very first second. In the first action, we realized what was going to happen. We had a player injured [Rodri] after they sent him to the ground twice in 10 minutes. We had a goal conceded after the referee called our captain and then didn’t allow him to recover his position. The second goal is already their usual block to our keeper allowed by the referee. And then the referee allowed a sequence of time-wasting events. The thing that bothers me the most is having a lot of meetings with the FA at the beginning of each season. They tell us they will control this kind of situation and will stop them, but at the end, it doesn’t have any worth.”
Bernardo concluded by comparing Arsenal to Liverpool:
Bernardo Silva said “I don’t know. Maybe that Liverpool have already won a Premier League, Arsenal haven’t. That Liverpool have won a Champions League, Arsenal haven’t. Liverpool always faced us face to face to try to win the games, so by this perspective the games against Arsenal haven’t been like the ones we had and have against Liverpool. So yes, maybe a different rivalry.”
