Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva has criticized Arsenal’s defensive tactics, suggesting that the current rivalry between the two clubs doesn’t yet match the intensity of the recent clashes between City and Liverpool. Arsenal came close to securing their first victory at the Etihad since 2015, only for John Stones to equalize in the 98th minute, resulting in a 2-2 draw. After Leandro Trossard received a red card in first-half stoppage time, Arsenal adopted a defensive strategy, retreating to protect their lead.
Silva noted the differences between the rivalries, pointing out that while Liverpool has won both the Premier League and the Champions League, Arsenal has yet to achieve similar success. “The difference? 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,” he said. Silva emphasized that Liverpool consistently faced City in a competitive manner, whereas Arsenal’s approach was more defensive.
During the match, Arsenal managed only 12.5 percent possession in the second half, frustrating City’s attempts to score and forcing them to take shots from distance. Notably, two Arsenal players, Jurrien Timber and Kai Havertz, failed to complete a single pass while on the pitch for at least 89 minutes, a first since records began in 2003.
Silva commented on Arsenal’s tactics, saying, “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.” Despite the frustration of not securing a win, he expressed satisfaction with City’s performance: “I’m glad we always enter the pitch to try to win every match.”
The draw allowed City to maintain their position at the top of the Premier League, two points ahead of Arsenal, who are currently in fourth place after five games.
