Bernardo Silva did not hold back in criticizing Arsenal following their recent draw against Manchester City, sharply highlighting the key differences between the Gunners and Liverpool. In a fiery post-match interview, Silva compared Arsenal’s approach to that of Liverpool, a team that has consistently rivaled City in both the Premier League and Champions League.
Sunday’s dramatic Premier League encounter saw City drop points for the first time in their title defense, with John Stones scoring a last-minute equalizer to make it 2-2. Arsenal, who had been reduced to ten men just before halftime due to Leandro Trossard’s red card, had been leading 2-1 up until the 98th minute. Despite the draw, City remained at the top of the table with 13 points.
Speaking after the game, Silva expressed frustration with Arsenal’s tactics, suggesting they approached the match in a negative manner compared to Liverpool, a side renowned for their aggressive, attacking style when facing City.
“Maybe the difference is that Liverpool has already won the Premier League, and Arsenal hasn’t,” Silva explained. “Liverpool have also won the Champions League, and Arsenal haven’t achieved that yet. Liverpool have always come at us head-on, looking to win every match. In comparison, our games against Arsenal don’t feel the same. It’s not the same level of intensity or desire to win from their side, at least not like Liverpool’s.”
Silva continued to dissect the match, accusing Arsenal of playing defensively and pushing the limits of what was allowed by the referee. “Only one team came to play football today,” he said. “The other came to play within the boundaries of what they could get away with, unfortunately. We’re disappointed because we came to win, and that’s what we always aim for. I’m proud of how we approached the game, even if the result wasn’t what we wanted.”
The Portuguese midfielder went on to share his frustration with the officiating during the match. “Right from the start, we knew how the game would go. One of our players was injured after being fouled twice in the first 10 minutes. Then, for their first goal, the referee spoke to our captain but didn’t give him time to get back into position. Their second goal came from what is now a regular tactic against us—blocking our goalkeeper—which the referee allowed.”
Silva also voiced his concerns over time-wasting, which he felt was overlooked by the officials. “What annoys me the most is that we have so many meetings with the FA at the start of each season, where they assure us they’ll address these kinds of situations. They talk a lot about making improvements, but nothing ever changes. It’s frustrating when we’re told one thing and then see the opposite happening on the pitch.”
In closing, Silva’s remarks painted a clear picture of his disappointment, not just in the result, but in the way Arsenal approached the match. His comparison to Liverpool highlighted what he sees as a gap in mentality and ambition between the two clubs, and he didn’t shy away from calling out the officiating, which he believes hindered City’s chances of securing a win.