Bernardo Silva has praised Mikel Arteta's squad after they held Manchester City to a goalless draw at Etihad Stadium.
Pep Guardiola's formidable City side encountered a rare challenge as they were held scoreless for the first time in 57 home games against Mikel Arteta's Arsenal.
Despite both teams grappling to create clear-cut opportunities, it was evident that Arsenal presented a formidable obstacle. Even with Nathan Ake's near-miss from a corner, City found breaking through Arsenal's defense a daunting task.
Reflecting on the match in an interview with Sky Sports, Silva highlighted Arsenal's defensive strategy, noting the intricacies of their high press and compact defensive setup. He remarked, "[It’s] tough to play against them because man-to-man when they were pressing high,” and observed their wingers dropping deep to bolster the defensive line.
Silva further praised Arsenal's organization, acknowledging the challenge they posed in stifling City's attacking prowess. "They were very well-organised," he admitted, emphasizing the difficulty in creating scoring opportunities against such a disciplined defense.
When questioned about the contrast between this encounter and Arsenal's previous visit, where they suffered a heavy defeat, Silva pointed out a significant evolution in Arsenal's approach. He remarked, "Last April, I felt like they were doing man-to-man all over the pitch the whole game." However, he noted a departure from that strategy, highlighting Arsenal's enhanced maturity and experience.
In assessing Arsenal's progress, Silva emphasized their growth, attributing it to the collective experience gained by their young squad over the past year. He concluded that Arsenal's performance showcased marked improvement, stating, "Today I think they were much better."
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