Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva explained the difference between City’s Arsenal and Liverpool rivalries, citing the Gunners’ lack of recent silverware as he was left disappointed by their approach to Sunday’s 2-2 draw, Soccernet.football reports.
The Cityzens began the match in sublime fashion with Erling Haaland slipping through the Arsenal back line to slot home a cool finish early on. With his goal, the Norwegian matched Cristiano Ronaldo’s record of scoring 100 goals in 105 matches.
Arsenal managed to stage a first-half comeback with defenders Ricardo Calafiori and Gabriel Magalhães both breaching City’s defense before the break. However, they suffered a huge blow as Leandro Trossard got himself sent off in stoppage time.
The second-half was largely one-sided but City were left frustrated by a resolute Arsenal low-block. It took a 98th-minute equalizer from substitute John Stones to rescue a point for the champions.
After the final whistle, Silva criticized Arsenal’s approach, claiming that Manchester City’s rivalry with Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool was much more entertaining.
“The difference [between the rivalries]? I don’t know. Maybe that Liverpool have already won a Premier League, Arsenal haven’t,” Silva told TNT Sports as reported by Metro Sports.
“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.”
“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.
“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.”