Manchester City captain Bernardo Silva has voiced his frustration over what he perceives as an unfair scheduling disadvantage in their recent Premier League clash against Arsenal. The game, which ended in a 1-1 draw, saw Gabriel Martinelli's late goal cancel out Erling Haaland's early opener for City. Silva argues that Arsenal had a significant advantage due to having more rest time between their midweek Champions League fixture and the Sunday match.

Arsenal played Athletic Bilbao on Tuesday, while Man City faced Napoli on Thursday. This meant Arsenal had approximately five days to recover, whereas City had only two and a half. Silva believes this difference in recovery time had a tangible impact on the game, especially considering it was "one of the most important games in the season". He stated that it is simply "not fair" to have such a disparity in rest for such a crucial match.

Silva highlighted the physical demands of playing at the highest level, emphasizing that players need to be in optimal condition for these games. He suggested that the quick turnaround contributed to Abdukodir Khusanov's injury during the game. Khusanov was replaced at halftime.

"I am saying this because we didn't lose. If we lost, I wouldn't say this,” Silva clarified, ensuring his comments weren't interpreted as sour grapes. He took pride in City's resilience and fight despite the circumstances. Silva acknowledged that while a point away against a strong Arsenal side is a decent result, the frustration stems from not being able to perform at their best due to the scheduling.

The match itself was a tightly contested affair. Haaland scored early for City in the ninth minute, capitalizing on a counter-attack. City then defended resolutely for much of the game, absorbing pressure from Arsenal. Arsenal introduced substitutes Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze in the second half, adding more attacking impetus. Ultimately, Martinelli's late strike secured a draw for the Gunners.

Silva also expressed a broader concern about football's governing bodies not listening to players' complaints regarding fixture congestion. He mentioned the addition of the expanded Club World Cup, further intensifying the already packed calendar. "We have tried, they don't listen to us. It is what it is,” Silva lamented, suggesting a sense of resignation about the issue. He feels that common sense and respect are lacking when these decisions are made. Silva proposed a simple solution: giving City just one extra day of rest to make the game more even. He believes that two-and-a-half days is insufficient for players to recover and perform at their peak.

The result leaves Arsenal in second place, five points behind Liverpool, while Manchester City slips to ninth in the Premier League standings.