Manchester City's Bernardo Silva has criticized Arsenal's defensive approach and suggested that the rivalry between the clubs does not match the intensity of their clashes with Liverpool in recent years.
Arsenal came close to securing their first victory at the Etihad since 2015 on Sunday, but John Stones' 98th-minute equalizer salvaged a 2-2 draw for City. The Gunners retreated after being reduced to 10 men by Leandro Trossard's red card in first-half stoppage time.
Mikel Arteta's men have finished second to City in the Premier League for the past two seasons. However, for much of Pep Guardiola's tenure at City, it was Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool who consistently challenged for the title.
Under Klopp, Liverpool won the Premier League for the first time in 30 years in 2020, adding to their 2019 Champions League triumph. Silva highlighted the difference in achievements between the two rivalries, stating, "Maybe that Liverpool have already won a Premier League, Arsenal haven't. That Liverpool have won a Champions League, Arsenal haven't."
Silva also noted that Liverpool always faced City head-on, whereas Arsenal's approach has been different. Arsenal had just 12.5 percent possession in the second half at the Etihad but managed to frustrate City with a resolute defensive display.
Two Arsenal players, Jurrien Timber and Kai Havertz, became the first outfield players to fail to complete a single pass while playing at least 89 minutes of a Premier League match since records began in 2003. Manuel Akanji and Stones were among other City players who commented on Arsenal's tactics, referring to their "dark arts" as they tried to waste time in the second half.
Despite the draw, Silva expressed satisfaction with City's performance, saying, "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." The result kept City two points ahead of Arsenal, who sit fourth after five games.
