Bernardo Silva asserts that Arsenal is not a rival to Man City

Before the crucial clash with Arsenal, captain Bernardo Silva emphasized that Liverpool is still Manchester City's main challenger in the Premier League, even though the "Gunners" have improved greatly over the past few years.

Speaking on Sky Sports, captain Bernardo Silva mentioned that Man City's title battles over recent years have primarily been against Liverpool. “Manchester United is a city rival but currently going through a tough period. Our biggest opponent has to be Liverpool because they consistently compete fairlyand have even won titles. Arsenal is improving and starting to enter the race, but they have not yet reached that level with us.” Silva shared.

Last season, Arsenal finished second, 3 points ahead of Man City, and also defeated Pep Guardiola's team 5-1 in February when the defending champions were struggling. However, Silva said that was just a “fragile” moment for City, and now the team is ready to reclaim its status.

Contrary to Silva’s view, midfielder Rodri considers Liverpool and Arsenal as the two leading contenders for the title over Man City. He emphasized: “What has helped us prevail in recent years is the mentality and spirit of champions. Now we need to restore that spirit because the level of all teams is very high. The upcoming match against Arsenal is an opportunity to settle last season's score.”

Rodri also stated that Man City is not yet thinking about the long race but focusing on short-term consistency. “Liverpool and Arsenal may be considered contenders, but they don’t yet know what we can do. Wait until February or March, and it will be clear,” he said.

This weekend, Man City hosts Arsenal eager to reaffirm their position. On one side is Guardiola’s team striving to regain form, on the other is Arsenal determined to maintain momentum. With Liverpool still firmly atop the table, this Premier League season promises to remain thrilling with a three-way battle among the giants Liverpool, Arsenal, and Man City.