Manchester City star Bernardo Silva has already begun laying the groundwork for excuses should his team fail to secure the Premier League title this season, while once again downplaying Arsenal's credentials as genuine rivals.

Speaking in an interview with The Athletic, the Portuguese midfielder—never a favorite among Arsenal supporters—dismissed the Gunners' recent title challenge as merely "natural" given their squad's longevity together. "It's a team that has been together for, what, five years now, so it's only natural that they would man up a little bit and start challenging for titles," Silva remarked.

Instead of acknowledging Arsenal's growth, Silva pointed to City's own struggles, suggesting the title would have been theirs without a "transitional" season. "I do believe our main rivals (during my time at City) were Liverpool by far," he said. "If we were not in a transitional season and if we didn't make so many mistakes, we would have won this league. I don't say we would have won easily, but we would have won this league. So it's quite frustrating."

Silva's comments come as City cling to title hopes, but controversy lingers. The Premier League's Key Match Incidents panel has since ruled that referee Lee Mason made a critical error by not awarding a penalty for Silva's sustained holding foul on Everton's Merlin Rohl during a recent draw. The panel voted unanimously that a clear, continuous holding offense occurred as the corner was taken.

That single point—secured via an incorrect decision—could prove decisive in a title race that now extends into the final week. For fans of the beautiful game, it's a reminder that in football, as in fashion, every detail matters. Whether you're backing City's ambition or Arsenal's rise, one thing is certain: this season's finale is shaping up to be one for the books.