By Milcah Tanimu
Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva has voiced strong criticism of Arsenal’s performance in their recent 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium. He accused the Gunners of not “playing football,” suggesting that their approach was more about limiting City’s play than engaging in a competitive match.
The game was marred by controversy, especially surrounding referee Michael Oliver’s decisions. Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard received a red card just before halftime for kicking the ball away after a foul while already on a yellow card, marking a repeat of a similar situation earlier in the season with Declan Rice against Brighton.
City opened the scoring with an early goal from Erling Haaland, but Arsenal responded with Riccardo Calafiori equalizing, followed by Gabriel’s header putting them ahead at 2-1. However, John Stones managed to secure a late equalizer for City, leaving both teams with a point.
Silva commented, “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.” He expressed disappointment over the draw, noting that City aimed for a win but acknowledged the team’s effort throughout the match.
Silva also highlighted the referee’s performance, stating, “It all started in the very first second… We had a goal conceded after the referee called our captain and didn’t allow him to recover his position.” He criticized the ongoing issue of time-wasting and questioned the effectiveness of the FA’s promises to improve officiating.
Despite the challenging match, Arsenal remained unbeaten over a tough week, including a win against Spurs and draws with Atalanta and Manchester City, affirming Mikel Arteta’s strategy as they move forward this season.
