Manchester City captain Bernardo Silva claimed Arsenal have offered them unexpected hope of winning a seventh Premier League crown under Pep Guardiola.
Silva admitted that City's form - failing to win any of their first four games of the calendar year - should have seen them fall away in the title race.
But Arsenal's two draws and defeat by Manchester United last weekend means the gap is only four points, with the teams meeting at the Etihad Stadium in April.
Mikel Arteta's side go to Leeds on Saturday to face a team that has lost just one of their last 10 games, while City are at Tottenham a day later.
'I've recently said that both teams would still drop points, but unfortunately we started the year in a negative form as we could've gained an emotional advantage and we didn't,' Silva said.
'And then they could've distanced themselves from us even further but they didn't, so they gave us a bit of hope.'
Silva referenced the lack of title experience of Arsenal, who have finished second in each of the past three seasons.
'Liverpool have won two league titles and we have won six in my time in England, so I've never experienced Arsenal winning the league,' he added.
'But the truth is that at the moment they're in a better position than us. 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.'
The 31-year-old also refused to be drawn on his future ahead of his contract expiring in the summer. Benfica and Chicago Fire are among those who want to sign Silva and Juventus have looked at the possibility of a deal.
'I have an idea (of what will happen), but it's not a good time to speak about it,' Silva said.
Nnaemekamike
0
please Cook your hope because they intentionally cheated arsenal. The first goal was clear control of the ball with arm and the hand ball incidences in the penalty area. were all not checked. Maybe those referees ate something from united. Harry Maguire was not one The ground but instead tried leaning towards the ground with stretched arm
Wetin this wan they talk here ? Better go and drink water nd clean off ur mouth
Kihdilmrty
0
man city have given arsenal hope to win Premier league
CHBOY
0
you be mumu
Nah you be the highest clown 🤡 otondo
Leolmntuz
1
Arsenal fc is holding steady, no matter what we're gonna win the epl crown
Mcnaughtly
0
please Cook your hope because they intentionally cheated arsenal. The first goal was clear control of the ball with arm and the hand ball incidences in the penalty area. were all not checked. Maybe those referees ate something from united. Harry Maguire was not one The ground but instead tried leaning towards the ground with stretched arm
Cry more🤣
The_Alpha13
0
The league is not shite. Your team is shite.
arsenal only got 1 point from a possible 6 from this shite team though. what's that saying about them?
The_Alpha13
0
The league is not shite. Your team is shite.
👍
saeaipsuyz
0
please Cook your hope because they intentionally cheated arsenal. The first goal was clear control of the ball with arm and the hand ball incidences in the penalty area. were all not checked. Maybe those referees ate something from united. Harry Maguire was not one The ground but instead tried leaning towards the ground with stretched arm
itsdjepic
0
it says the league is shite. in the prem, Arsenal has been far from perfect, scraping wins and dropping points but those who are supposed to be chasing them are doing the same. had city or villa capitalized on arsenal's slip ups, they'd be 2nd or 3rd by now. let's not forget the stick liverpool received last season saying the league was weak. how are we to be blamed for capitalizing on others downfall? arsenal should be doing the same but as you can see, they can be roped in. we led with double figures for most of the season last time out.
The league is not shite. Your team is shite.
Kukbilsty
0
Rubbish, big mouth what is your team waiting for why not leapfrog Arsenal and be top of the table
you be mumu
faeabkpsuz
0
How much are betting 6 points 4 city
Gunner_23
1
Bernardo silva looks like a little girl😁😁😁
social3727
0
Silver and his city team are not good enough to win the premier league this season
AFeroiRt3214
0
We might see normality with their recent performances
bm69
1
Silva is only playing a mind game. In-as-much as i dont like Arsenal, I really have so much respect for them...but if Arsenal let this title slip this time round,...
Free2Rhyme
0
I would rather have City win their 7th EPL title than Arsenal winning it. Arsenal is an arrogant and noisy football club from the arrogant Coach down to the disrespectful players and Childish fans! Next season FC are title pretenders once again! 🤡🤡
if wishes were horse 🐎🐴
lbt
0
No..no..no... Arsenal itself is brought to its default setting.
moheksz
2
Bernardo is right they will win the premier league 👏👏👏 Arsenal can’t
HASHIMkabuye
0
No hope
Auwallnever
1
if you want us to win against Tottenham
Jipadilsuy
1
Come on citizens, we are man city, we are champion again [Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh]
kidaknprsz
0
I would rather have City win their 7th EPL title than Arsenal winning it. Arsenal is an arrogant and noisy football club from the arrogant Coach down to the disrespectful players and Childish fans! Next season FC are title pretenders once again! 🤡🤡
U dont need care. Just move along. Arsenal not winning anything yet.
Lambertino
0
I would rather have City win their 7th EPL title than Arsenal winning it. Arsenal is an arrogant and noisy football club from the arrogant Coach down to the disrespectful players and Childish fans! Next season FC are title pretenders once again! 🤡🤡
Bitter soul!! Your heart would be broken at the end of the season
bonacenryz
1
as a man city fan dat I am I know that we can do it forget the fact that our back is leaking but the is still possibility of us wining the cup
Hiaceikmt
1
there's a problem man city is facing a team that always beats them and that's Tottenham Hotspur
CHBOY
0
Spurs and Liverpool game You won’t get even one point from those games
CHBOY
0
Rubbish, big mouth what is your team waiting for why not leapfrog Arsenal and be top of the table
The_Alpha13
0
the question I am asking is if arsenal is not a good team and are leading the premier league and still unbeaten in the champion league tell what is that saying about your teams 🤔
it says the league is shite. in the prem, Arsenal has been far from perfect, scraping wins and dropping points but those who are supposed to be chasing them are doing the same. had city or villa capitalized on arsenal's slip ups, they'd be 2nd or 3rd by now. let's not forget the stick liverpool received last season saying the league was weak. how are we to be blamed for capitalizing on others downfall? arsenal should be doing the same but as you can see, they can be roped in. we led with double figures for most of the season last time out.
suzbcelms
1
hope for dream
retcistz
0
except, they know how to win trophies, and Arsenal, under Arteta, doesn't. hunger alone won't win it, experience goes a far way and no one is more experienced than Pep and City. Arsenal will have to be at their impeccable best if they are to deny city. and don't forget villa; Unai Emery is no joke either.
the question I am asking is if arsenal is not a good team and are leading the premier league and still unbeaten in the champion league tell what is that saying about your teams 🤔
reobklmpuz
0
With your consistently inconsistent?
Chima92
0
I would rather have City win their 7th EPL title than Arsenal winning it. Arsenal is an arrogant and noisy football club from the arrogant Coach down to the disrespectful players and Childish fans! Next season FC are title pretenders once again! 🤡🤡
Necbklrsuz
1
silva, is that a dream?
rafaeljoel
2
So he's saying about Arsenal yet he forgets that spurs always awaits for them like a final cl
nouadeknpt
0
funny funny funny 😁
Yihbimoptz
5
No two seasons are the same city should forget living in the past glory arsenal all the way this season
Yaaaiklprt
1
Manchester United is winning
The_Alpha13
1
We still have many games to play,many teams will still drop points. That same hope you have, Arsenal FC do same. Let's keep our fingers crossed and see how it pans out, starting from this weekend
Indeed mate. Well said.
Yihbimoptz
1
City will drop the whole 3 point this weekend Tottenham is waiting to hammer them hard
Iffy106
3
Arsenal fans to Bernardo Silva and haters right now
Vuzilmpuyz
1
that's good dream
ladbeintuz
1
Citizens will win the league 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤨
tobdenoprt
1
Silva u must be a fool to admit this
daudamcyhjhvbnh
niociklr
0
I see Aston villa lifting the league
For your dream abi
Outlier
0
City has improved, especially with Semenyo and Guehi, meanwhile Arsenal have plateaued and don’t have any upgrades planned until summer. Same old s*** from Arsenal
wohacdnop
1
City can't even win a match yet Silva talking shit
All he said are facts. Arsenal would gain more points and be in a better position to win the league if they had won those matches. He also said the that in his time Arsenal has not won the EPL...Na lie
Omatschibuike
0
except, they know how to win trophies, and Arsenal, under Arteta, doesn't. hunger alone won't win it, experience goes a far way and no one is more experienced than Pep and City. Arsenal will have to be at their impeccable best if they are to deny city. and don't forget villa; Unai Emery is no joke either.
you are right, still, football is unpredictable,who could believe that all the teams in Epl haven't won more than half of the games they have played since the turn of the year? Pep and City might have the experience as you pointed out,yet, anything can happen between now and May. Yea, Villa and their coach ain't to be written out, let's watch on
Kodcilmnr
1
Silva u must be a fool to admit this
Yemaekmsy
0
City can't even win a match yet Silva talking shit
Then you must be having no brain coz they are the second in the league
The_Alpha13
0
We still have many games to play,many teams will still drop points. That same hope you have, Arsenal FC do same. Let's keep our fingers crossed and see how it pans out, starting from this weekend
except, they know how to win trophies, and Arsenal, under Arteta, doesn't. hunger alone won't win it, experience goes a far way and no one is more experienced than Pep and City. Arsenal will have to be at their impeccable best if they are to deny city. and don't forget villa; Unai Emery is no joke either.