{"id":897237,"date":"2026-04-16T04:49:22","date_gmt":"2026-04-16T04:49:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/897237\/"},"modified":"2026-04-16T04:49:22","modified_gmt":"2026-04-16T04:49:22","slug":"joe-cole-urges-mikel-arteta-to-drop-arsenal-star-for-man-city-clash-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/897237\/","title":{"rendered":"Joe Cole urges Mikel Arteta to drop Arsenal star for Man City clash | Football"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\"\"
\n\t\tJoe Cole after Arsenal\u2019s Champions League win over Sporting (Picture: TNT Sports)<\/p>\n

Joe Cole has backed Mikel Arteta<\/a> to start 16-year-old Max Dowman<\/a> in Arsenal<\/a>\u2019s potential Premier League<\/a> title decider against Manchester City<\/a> but says Viktor Gyokeres<\/a> should be dropped.<\/p>\n

The Gunners travel to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday<\/a> to take on Man City in the biggest game of the Premier League season.<\/p>\n

Arsenal, chasing a first league title since 2004, boast a six-point lead over Pep Guardiola<\/a>\u2019s side but Man City\u2019s game in hand means the title is effectively in both club\u2019s hands.<\/p>\n

Arsenal missed the chance to move 12 points clear of their title rivals on Saturday as they slipped to a potentially damaging 2-1 defeat at home to Bournemouth<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Manchester City still had to take advantage to keep the title race alive and did so impressively, thumping Chelsea 3-0 at Stamford Bridge<\/a>.<\/p>\n

A goalless draw with Sporting on Wednesday night means Arsenal have won just one of their last five games in all competitions.<\/p>\n

But that was enough to send Mikel Arteta\u2019s team through to the Champions League semi-finals courtesy of a 1-0 aggregate win over Portuguese champions Sporting<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Arsenal
\n\t\tViktor Gyokeres was subbed off against Sporting (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n

It was another underwhelming performance from Arsenal in the final third, with Arteta\u2019s side creating just one shot on target.<\/p>\n

Arteta\u2019s \u00a364m summer signing Gyokeres was subbed off for Kai Havertz with over half an hour remaining and Cole believes the forwards should switch places at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.<\/p>\n

\u2018I think Mikel Arteta goes with Kai Havertz because you\u2019re going to need to hold the ball up against Man City,\u2019 Cole said on TNT Sports<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Arsenal
\n\t\tMax Dowman after Arsenal\u2019s quarter-final win (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n

\u2018Viktor Gyokeres fluffed his lines tonight in terms of holding the ball up and\u00a0that\u2019s\u00a0why he got dragged off. Havertz did that better and they looked a more composed team.\u2019<\/p>\n

Teenage sensation Dowman was introduced at a similar time as Havertz and Cole was impressed by his second-half cameo in the Champions League.<\/p>\n

\u2018It would be a massive call [to start Dowman against Man City] but he is special, he\u2019s clearly special,\u2019 Cole added.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Arsenal
\n\t\tMikel Arteta takes Arsenal to Man City on Sunday (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n

\u2018What\u00a0he\u2019s\u00a0already done at the game at his age is incredible. He could start\u2026<\/p>\n

\u2018Arsenal\u00a0were\u00a0in a Champions League\u00a0quarter-final tonight and Arteta turned to Dowman and that shows you the faith they have in him.<\/p>\n

\u2018We might even see him on Sunday and that would be huge.\u2019<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Arteta was full of praise for his Arsenal team after they reached back-to-back Champions League semi-finals for the first time ever.<\/p>\n

\u2018It\u2019s a massive moment,\u2019 Arteta said. \u2018To be part of those four teams [in the semi-finals] is great work.<\/p>\n

\u2018It\u2019s a great night. I\u2019m very happy for all our people. We are making steps that haven\u2019t been done at this club for 140 years.\u2019<\/p>\n

Arsenal have played Manchester City twice so far this season, drawing 1-1 at the Emirates Stadium in the Premier League and losing 2-0 in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley<\/a>.<\/p>\n

For more stories like this,\u00a0check our sport page<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on
\nFacebook<\/a>,\u00a0<\/strong>Twitter<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Instagram<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Arrow
\nMORE: How Man Utd can line up against Chelsea after fresh blow sparks defensive crisis<\/a><\/p>\n

Arrow
\nMORE: Danny Murphy makes prediction for potential Arsenal vs Atletico Madrid semi-final<\/a><\/p>\n

Arrow
\nMORE: Sporting suffer injury blow with star Mikel Arteta wanted at Arsenal ruled out<\/a><\/p>\n


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