Manchester City captain Bernardo Silva believes the Premier League title race remains wide open, suggesting that Arsenal’s recent slip-up has reignited the defending champions’ belief. The dynamic of the hunt shifted dramatically last weekend when the Gunners suffered a 3-2 home defeat to Manchester United, failing to capitalize on the momentum of the season.
This setback occurred just 24 hours after Manchester City handled their own business with a routine 2-0 victory over Wolves at the Etihad Stadium. Consequently, the gap at the summit has narrowed to just four points, leaving the North London side within striking distance as the final 15 matches of the campaign approach.
The Portuguese playmaker admitted that while City struggled to find their rhythm at the start of the calendar year, Arsenal’s failure to pull away has kept the race competitive. Silva noted that his side missed an opportunity to exert psychological pressure earlier in the month, but emphasized that the current standings offer a fresh start for the chasing pack. With over a third of the season still to play, the veteran midfielder expects more fluctuations in form from both teams as the pressure of the run-in intensifies.
The title contenders face contrasting challenges this weekend as they look to assert their dominance. Mikel Arteta’s league leaders travel to Elland Road to face Leeds United on Saturday, January 31, desperate to avoid a second consecutive defeat. Manchester City, meanwhile, head to London on Sunday, February 1, for a high-stakes encounter against Tottenham Hotspur. As the margin for error thins, Silva’s comments underline a renewed confidence within the City dressing room that the trophy could yet remain in Manchester.
The City captain provided a candid assessment of the shifting momentum to the press: “Recently, I’ve said that both teams would still lose points, but unfortunately, we started the year in a bad way. We could have gained an emotional edge, but we didn’t. And then they could have pulled away from us, but they didn’t. So, they gave us a little hope.”
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