Manchester City forward Bernardo Silva voiced his frustration after their 2-2 Premier League draw against Arsenal, accusing the Gunners of resorting to “dark arts” during the match at Etihad Stadium.
Silva claimed only one team came to play football, as Arsenal held City to a draw despite being reduced to 10 men in the first half.
“There was only one team that came to play football,” Silva told TNT Sports Brazil. “The other came to play to the limits of what was allowed by the referee.”
Silva criticised Arsenal’s tactics, particularly their time-wasting approach and disruption of City’s rhythm.
City were denied a victory after John Stones’ 98th-minute equaliser, cancelling out Arsenal’s almost historic win at the Etihad.
Arsenal had taken the lead despite Leandro Trossard’s controversial red card in first-half stoppage time, leaving them with only 12.5% possession in the second half. City registered 28 shots in the second period, the highest since their famous 2012 title-winning game against QPR.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta described the performance as miraculous, saying, “It is a miracle we played 56 minutes at the Etihad with 10 men.” Arteta refused to comment directly on the red card but expressed frustration with refereeing decisions affecting the outcome of the match.
The controversy centred on Trossard’s dismissal, with the winger receiving a second yellow for kicking the ball away, a decision Arsenal fans claimed was inconsistent after a similar incident involving City’s Jeremy Doku earlier in the game. Arteta chose not to comment, leaving the situation for others to judge.
City defender John Stones echoed Silva’s complaints about Arsenal’s tactics, accusing them of disrupting the game and slowing down play. “You can call it clever or dirty, but they break up the game,” said Stones. City captain Kyle Walker also acknowledged Arsenal’s use of the “dark arts,” calling the match a thrilling spectacle but highlighting frustrations with Arsenal’s tactics.
Despite the intense match, the Gunners came close to becoming the first away team to win at the Etihad since November 2022. Had they succeeded, they would have moved to the top of the Premier League table, but Stones’ late equaliser kept City at the summit.
Silva compared City’s rivalry with Arsenal to their battles with Liverpool during the Jurgen Klopp era, suggesting Arsenal’s approach lacked the direct competition Liverpool brought. “Liverpool always faced us face-to-face… the games against Arsenal haven’t been like the ones we had against Liverpool,” he said.
While the match was an unforgettable spectacle, Arteta expressed disappointment that tactical elements were overshadowed by officiating decisions, stating, “I want to be involved in a game at this level that puts the game in a situation we can enjoy… but we’re not talking about that.”
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