Bernardo Silva has delivered a pointed reminder to Arsenal that Manchester City have no intention of stepping aside in the Premier League title race, insisting the Sky Blues still believe they can reel in Mikel Arteta’s side before the season reaches its conclusion.
Arsenal currently sit four points clear at the summit, a position earned through long spells of consistency and control. Yet recent weeks have shown that even the most disciplined title contenders are not immune to setbacks.
A draw away at Nottingham Forest, followed by a home defeat to Manchester United, has slightly slowed the momentum that once made the Gunners appear untouchable in the Premier League title race.
For Manchester City, the campaign has also been defined by fluctuations. Pep Guardiola’s side have not been at their relentless best, suffering a damaging loss at Old Trafford before responding with a crucial victory over Wolves.
The pattern has been one of recovery rather than dominance, a departure from the seasons in which City have surged clear in the spring months.
Silva, one of the most experienced figures in Guardiola’s squad, believes that shared inconsistency has kept the contest alive.
The Portuguese midfielder accepts Arsenal are better placed for now, but he sees opportunity in the narrow margins separating the two sides.
Speaking candidly, Silva reflected on how unusual the idea of an Arsenal title still feels to him after years of City supremacy and Liverpool’s recent success.
“In my experience here in England, Liverpool have won two league titles and we have won six, so I’ve never experienced Arsenal winning the league,” he said per Manchester Evening News
“But the truth is that at the moment they’re in a better position than us. I’ve recently said that both teams would still drop points, but unfortunately we started the year in a negative form, as we could’ve gained an emotional advantage and we didn’t.”
Silva also hinted that Arsenal’s inability to fully capitalise on City’s stumbles has kept belief alive at the Etihad.
He added: “And then they could’ve distanced themselves from us even further, but they didn’t, so they gave us a bit of hope.”
Experience, pressure and the long road ahead
What separates Manchester City from many challengers is their familiarity with the demands of the Premier League title race. Season after season, they have navigated injuries, fixture congestion, and expectation to emerge on top.
Silva believes that experience still counts for something, even when the table suggests otherwise.
The midfielder stressed that the campaign is far from settled and warned against assuming Arsenal’s current position guarantees success.
He said: “There’s still a lot of games to be played and every season is different. Without a doubt we still have hope and ambition to fight for this Premier League.”
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Even when momentum shifts away from the Cityzens, resignation is never part of the vocabulary. Instead, focus turns to accumulation — winning the next match, then the next, trusting that pressure will eventually tell on those ahead.
For Arsenal, the challenge is as much mental as tactical. Leading the table brings a new kind of scrutiny, particularly for a side still learning how to finish the job.
Arteta has overseen remarkable progress, transforming Arsenal into genuine contenders after years of rebuilding. But converting promise into silverware remains the final test.
The dropped points against Nottingham Forest and Manchester United were reminders of how unforgiving the Premier League can be.
Fine margins, controversial decisions, and moments of indecision can all have lasting consequences. With City lurking close behind, Arsenal know that every slip carries added weight.
