It was fitting that in Manchester City’s biggest game of the season so far its two most eye-catching players made the difference. Indeed, it was goals from Rayan Cherki and Erling Haaland that gave Pep Guardiola’s team a potentially season-defining win over Arsenal.
City can now go top of the Premier League table with a victory over Burnley on Wednesday. Not so long ago, Arsenal looked to have the title wrapped up. Now, though, the Gunners are on the brink of losing their place as pace-setters. Sunday’s performance was a show of strength by Manchester City.
Bernardo Silva might not have found the back of the net, but he was just as important to City as Cherki and Haaland. The Portuguese midfielder was the glue in the centre of the pitch, giving the home side the cohesion it required to get the better of the visitors to the Etihad Stadium.
In a team that had Haaland, Cherki, Jeremy Doku and Antoine Semenyo in the attacking third, Bernardo and Rodri were key to Manchester City’s game plan. Without the work ethic and coverage of Bernardo, Arsenal might have fared better. The 31-year-old was everywhere in his contribution.
He played Manchester City forward whenever possible, keeping the foot on the throat of the opposition, particularly in the second half when the hosts turned the screw. On top of this, Bernardo was quick to help out defensively, making headers inside his own box, tracking back and even making last-man tackles.
It has already been confirmed that Bernardo will depart the Etihad Stadium at the end of the season. The Portuguese has been at Manchester City since 2017 and has played a significant role in all the success enjoyed by the club since then. He is a multiple-times Premier League title winner and was central to City’s Champions League triumph of 2022/23.
“When these types of players are going, and there have been many in the last years, part of myself is leaving too,” said Guardiola about Bernardo’s looming exit. “It will be difficult imagining [the club] without him. He made an incredible statement during nine years and he has been massively, massively, massively important.”
City is one of the best at renewing its squad from season to season. Kevin De Bruyne, Kyle Walker, Ederson and Ilkay Gundogan all left the Etihad Stadium last summer and were replaced by the likes of Cherki, Semenyo, Tijani Reijnders and Gianluigi Donnarumma as Manchester City rebuilt its squad.
Replacing Bernardo, though, will be City’s biggest challenge. There are few players like the 31-year-old and that was underlined by his performance in Sunday’s win over Arsenal. Without the glue there’s a risk that Manchester City will fall apart. That’s how important Bernardo is.
