Manchester City faced their first Premier League defeat against Arsenal in nearly eight years this Sunday, slipping to the third position in the league standings. However, midfielder Bernardo Silva expressed a pragmatic outlook, asserting that the loss was “not the end of the world.”
In a closely contested match at the Emirates Stadium, substitute Gabriel Martinelli’s late strike secured a 1-0 victory for Arsenal, allowing them to level with league leaders Tottenham Hotspur, both on 20 points. Meanwhile, the reigning champions, Manchester City, find themselves with 18 points, having suffered losses in their last two Premier League games.
Last season, City engaged in a fierce title race with Arsenal, where they were trailing before Arsenal stumbled towards the end of the season. Bernardo Silva reflected on the recent setback, saying, “We need to rest both mentally and physically to prepare for the upcoming challenging matches. We must focus on areas where we can improve, much like we did last season. We’ll strive to return stronger after the international break. It’s important to remember that it’s not the end of the world; we’ve faced more challenging situations before. Our aim is to rebound from these two consecutive league defeats and reclaim our position at the top, where we believe we belong.”
Manchester City’s next fixture is slated for October 21st when they face Brighton & Hove Albion. Subsequently, they will take on arch-rivals Manchester United on October 29th.
Manager Pep Guardiola emphasized the importance of bouncing back from the recent loss, telling reporters, “While we find ourselves behind in the standings, it’s essential to remember that it’s only October. We’ve encountered similar situations before, and last season, we faced a more significant deficit. However, the season is long, and we have key players returning. We are determined to break this losing streak and secure victories against upcoming opponents such as Brighton and United. Our commitment to the challenge remains unwavering.”
