16 February 2023 , 17:00
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Bernardo Silva has claimed Arsenal remind him of Manchester City five years ago.
And the Portuguese warned that Arsenal are still firmly in the title race and it will go “until the end” - even after City reclaimed top spot in the Premier League. Pep Guardiola’s incredible era of success began with the 2017/18 title and City marched on to glory in three of the next four seasons.
They look red-hot favourites to do it again after overhauling Arsenal at the top of the table by beating their nearest challengers at the Emirates. Arsenal are level on points and still have a game in hand, but Silva sees similarities in Mikel Arteta’s men compared to where City were a few seasons back.
That is why Silva believes no one should write Arsenal off just yet and he warned that Arteta - who was No.2 at the Etihad before taking over at the Emirates - is building something for the long term. The City midfielder said: “We will fight until the end, knowing that we are going to fight against a very tough side that reminds me of us five years ago.
“They’re so young, they’re so good, their energy is so nice. But we are here and want to win again. We know it’s not going to be easy but we will fight. I think it is going to go up until the end. Hopefully, in the end, we are going to be on top of them, which is tough.
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“We still have one game to play against them, at the Etihad which is good for us. But lots of points to be played and we are going to fight. But every game, we are going to be there.
Bernardo Silva has compared Arsenal to Manchester City (Tom Flathers/Manchester City FC via Getty Images)“We need to keep putting pressure on them because they still have a game in hand, they can still go three points above us. So we must keep going, still lots of games to be played, lots of points to be played. We’re there in the fight.”
City have set records for the most consecutive Premier League wins (18 in a row) but, this season, the most they have managed is three on the bounce. That is something that Silva says has to change as he admitted they are still not at their usual levels of greatness.
He said: “We have struggled this season to get to that run. We have been winning three, four games and then lose one and it’s quite disappointing. Hopefully, we get to the point where we get to that run and finish this season in the best possible way.
“This was an important win for us. We knew how tough it would be to come here to the Emirates. They have a great team with a lot of energy, so [they were] three very important points. We are very happy but knowing some things aren’t perfect, but the most important thing is the win and we did.”
Part of the problem is Silva also being asked to fill in as an auxiliary left-back, tucking in to defend in Guardiola’s system, but even the Portugal midfielder admits it has been a challenge. He added: “I’m not going to lie, it’s very tough. When you play those positions, you have to have a defenders’ mentality.
“You lose a little bit of your offensive thinking and what you do with the ball. You are more focused on not making mistakes and defending well, occupying the spaces.
“It’s been challenging but it’s been nice. It’s a good challenge. I love challenges and I try to help the team as much as possible in the games we have won. Important games and we need to keep going.”