Bernardo Silva slams Arsenal’s time wasting v Manchester City & makes silverware dig

The 30-year-old was furious with Arsenal’s approach in Sunday’s 2-2 draw at the Etihad.

Bernardo Silva launched a scathing attack on Arsenal’s time-wasting tactics in the aftermath of Sunday’s entertaining 2-2 draw against Manchester City.

The visitors set their stall out early at the Etihad to defend deep, run down the clock and break up City’s play with a series of fouls. The latter resulted in Leandro Trossard’s red card in first-half injury-time, which left Mikel Arteta’s side with 45 minutes in which they had to play with 10 men.

Unsurprisingly, the Gunners took their time over dead balls in the second half, much to the fury of the home fans. David Raya was the subject of much of the supporters’ ire, particularly when he dropped to the ground to receive treatment – as did Riccardo Calafiori – while Declan Rice was also booed for taking an age to take a late free-kick.

Speaking after the game, Silva was hugely critical of Arsenal’s approach, and referee Michael Oliver. “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,” the Portugal international told ESPN Brazil

“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.”

It was a fiery encounter at the Etihad, with Rodri knocked to the ground after a collision with Kai Havertz in the opening seconds, Erling Haaland throwing the ball at Gabriel after City’s equaliser, while there were several skirmishes in the final stages of the game.

City also felt aggrieved at both of Arsenal’s goals, with Kyle Walker pulled out of position by Oliver seconds before Calafiori’s strike and Gabriel’s header checked by VAR for a possible foul on Ederson. It only added to the players’ sense of frustration.

“It all started in the very first second. In the first action we realised what was going to happen. We had a player injured after they sent him to the ground twice in 10 minutes,” explained an irritated Silva.

“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, which was allowed by the referee.

“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 in the end it doesn’t have any worth. They say a lot but nothing happens.”

The feisty affair underlined how much City’s rivalry with Arsenal has developed in recent years, perhaps finally eclipsing the competitive battles between Pep Guardiola’s side and Liverpool. But, according to Silva, there is a major difference between their main rivals.

“Maybe that Liverpool have already won the Premier League, Arsenal haven’t. That Liverpool have won the Champions League, Arsenal haven’t,” he said in a blunt appraisal.

“Liverpool always faced us face to face to try to win the games, so from this perspective the games against Arsenal haven’t been like the ones we had and have against Liverpool. So yes, maybe a different rivalry.”

City grabbed three points on Sunday courtesy of John Stones’ injury-time equaliser, while Haaland was also on target for the champions. It’s a result that maintains City’s unbeaten run at home and ensures they retained top spot after five games.