Bernardo Silva has admitted the Premier League title race is out of Manchester City’s hands after the club’s goalless draw with Arsenal.
The title rivals cancelled each other out in a forgettable clash at the Etihad, with the pre-match anticipation failing to materialise into an entertaining encounter.
Nathan Ake missed the best chance for City when he shouldered a miscued header at David Raya from close range, with Erling Haaland and Phil Foden ineffective as the Citizens failed to score in a home league game for the first time since October 2021.
Pep Guardiola’s team managed just one shot on target despite dominating possession with 73% of the ball, as the champions were frustrated by an Arsenal team who defended in a low-block with numbers.
Bernardo believes the Gunners proved they have gained valuable experience from a costly 4-1 defeat to Manchester City during last season’s run-in.
“Last April they went man to man for the whole game and when you do that is a bit of a fifty-fifty. Today it was a different [Arsenal] team, more experience,” the Portuguese midfielder told Sky Sports.
“They have young players that are now one year more experienced. They felt what it was to play here last season and today they were much better.”
The draw leaves City third in the table, a point behind second-placed Arsenal and three adrift of league leaders Liverpool.
Bernardo admits the club’s hopes of a record-breaking fourth consecutive Premier League title have suffered a setback with consecutive draws to their title rivals, leaving their fate out of their own hands.
“A lot can happen. Now we don’t depend on ourselves, we depend on Liverpool and Arsenal now because we don’t play against them again, so we need them to drop points as well as do our job and win our own games.”
