Silva: Fixture schedule unfair to Man City after stoppage-time draw with Arsenal

Arsenal and Manchester City played to a 1-1 draw at the Emirates after Gabriel Martinelli's stoppage-time strike, denying City a win in a key early-season test.

City had 66 hours to recover after a 2-0 victory over Napoli in the Champions League on Thursday, while Arsenal had already beaten Athletic Club 2-0 in Bilbao on Tuesday.

"It is not fair to play one of these games like this. It is just not right," Bernardo Silva said after the match. "The reality is we cannot come in to one of the most important games in the season with such a disadvantage, in terms of rest. I wasn't feeling in a perfect condition to play like this, and people who have not played at the highest level don't know how it feels to play a game like this. You need to be at your best condition."

Pep Guardiola said City were "incredibly tired" in the build-up and after the final whistle. He has previously argued that English teams face a disadvantage in Europe because Premier League scheduling often delivers the toughest schedules for the European teams in the important stages.

Silva, who made 62 appearances for City and Portugal last season, added: "I don't think that they are trying to make us lose a game. It could happen to Arsenal or Liverpool in a few months. But when you are playing an Arsenal v City, or a City v Liverpool, or a Liverpool v Arsenal, you need to have a bit of common sense, and understanding of these situations."

The discussion over fixture congestion has intensified as clubs balance domestic campaigns with European competition, with City contending that the current rhythm makes high-stakes matchups harder to win.