Gabriel Martinelli’s late deflected strike secured the three points for the Gunners at the Emirates Stadium in a tense encounter.
However, it was Pep Guardiola‘s men who made the brighter start, coming close twice early on through Josko Gvardiol and Nathan Ake.
Bernardo believes the overall performance was not worthy of defeat but declared that it is still very early in the season.
“It’s a setback. But it’s still the beginning. We’re far away from the end of the season,” he said.
“It was not the result we wanted. Against a tough opponent it is never easy to play.
“We felt the game was tough for both teams. Both are tough and organised and tense. We had a few chances in the beginning.
“In the end it was a deflection. In my opinion we gave them too much time to think at that moment. We have to be more intense in the pressing.
“It is what it is. It’s part of football and we move onto the next one.”
CITY+ | SIGN UP TO ACCESS EXCLUSIVE CONTENT
The Portuguese was deployed in an unfamiliar defensive midfield role in the absence of Rodrigo, who served the third and final match of his suspension.
The 29-year-old touched on the new position and also spoke about the need for the team to show character to bounce back after two league losses in succession.
“I was in number six, the manager asked me to do it. It’s not my natural position but I was comfortable. I was trying to be between the centre backs, I’m used to it. It was not a big thing.
“Last season I was a bit more uncomfortable at left back. It is what it is. Tough game for us especially because of the outcome, because I believe we didn’t play that bad.
“Some of these results we were not expecting and we didn’t want them to happen.
“Last season we won the Treble but there was a point that nothing was going our way.
“How you overcome these moments is what defines the team and we will keep fighting for all the games. We’re going for it again.”
