Manchester City captain Bernardo Silva has candidly admitted that Arsenal's recent Premier League stumble has provided his team with an unexpected lifeline in their pursuit of a seventh league crown under manager Pep Guardiola.
City's Poor Form Contrasted with Arsenal's Slip
Silva acknowledged that Manchester City's own form at the start of 2024 should have effectively ended their title challenge. The team failed to secure a victory in any of their first four matches of the calendar year, a sequence that typically proves fatal in a tight championship race.
"I've recently said that both teams would still drop points, but unfortunately we started the year in a negative form," Silva explained. "We could've gained an emotional advantage and we didn't."
Arsenal's Unexpected Gift of Hope
However, the narrative shifted dramatically last weekend. Arsenal's defeat to Manchester United, coupled with two previous draws, means the gap at the top of the table now stands at just four points. This sets the stage for a monumental clash when the two sides meet at the Etihad Stadium in April.
"And then they could've distanced themselves from us even further but they didn't, so they gave us a bit of hope," Silva added, highlighting the psychological boost Arsenal's results have provided.
The statistics underscore Arsenal's dip: they have failed to win their last three Premier League fixtures, losing two and drawing one. Meanwhile, City face a tough test away at Tottenham this weekend, while Arsenal travel to face a resilient Leeds United side that has lost only once in its last ten outings.
Experience Versus Current Position
Silva also pointed to the contrasting title pedigrees of the two clubs. He noted that while Liverpool have won two league titles and Manchester City have secured six during his time in England, he has never experienced Arsenal winning the Premier League.
"But the truth is that at the moment they're in a better position than us," he conceded. "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."
Future Speculation Dismissed
Amidst the title talk, the 31-year-old Portuguese midfielder refused to be drawn on speculation about his future, with his current contract set to expire in the summer. Clubs including Benfica, Chicago Fire, and Juventus have been linked with a move for the player.
"I have an idea of what will happen," Silva stated, "but it's not a good time to speak about it." His focus remains squarely on the immediate challenge of overhauling Arsenal in the remaining weeks of the season.
