Joe Cole has backed Mikel Arteta to start out 16-year-old Max Dowman in Arsenal’s potential Premier League title decider against Manchester City but says Viktor Gyokeres ought to be dropped.
The Gunners travel to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday to tackle Man City in the most important game of the Premier League season.
Arsenal, chasing a primary league title since 2004, boast a six-point lead over Pep Guardiola’s side but Man City’s game in hand means the title is effectively in each club’s hands.
Arsenal missed the possibility to maneuver 12 points clear of their title rivals on Saturday as they slipped to a potentially damaging 2-1 defeat at home to Bournemouth.
Manchester City still needed to make the most to maintain the title race alive and did so impressively, thumping Chelsea 3-0 at Stamford Bridge.
A goalless draw with Sporting on Wednesday night means Arsenal have won just one in all their last five games in all competitions.
But that was enough to send Mikel Arteta’s team through to the Champions League semi-finals courtesy of a 1-0 aggregate win over Portuguese champions Sporting.
It was one other underwhelming performance from Arsenal in the ultimate third, with Arteta’s side creating only one shot on the right track.
Arteta’s £64m summer signing Gyokeres was subbed off for Kai Havertz with over half an hour remaining and Cole believes the forwards should switch places on the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
‘I feel Mikel Arteta goes with Kai Havertz since you’re going to want to carry the ball up against Man City,’ Cole said on TNT Sports.
‘Viktor Gyokeres fluffed his lines tonight when it comes to holding the ball up and that’s why he got dragged off. Havertz did that higher they usually looked a more composed team.’
Teenage sensation Dowman was introduced at an analogous time as Havertz and Cole was impressed by his second-half cameo within the Champions League.
‘It might be a large call [to start Dowman against Man City] but he’s special, he’s clearly special,’ Cole added.
‘What he’s already done at the sport at his age is incredible. He could start…
‘Arsenal were in a Champions League quarter-final tonight and Arteta turned to Dowman and that shows you the religion they’ve in him.
‘We would even see him on Sunday and that might be huge.’
Meanwhile, Arteta was stuffed with praise for his Arsenal team after they reached back-to-back Champions League semi-finals for the primary time ever.
‘It’s a large moment,’ Arteta said. ‘To be a part of those 4 teams [in the semi-finals] is great work.
‘It’s an amazing night. I’m very completely happy for all our people. We’re making steps that haven’t been done at this club for 140 years.’
Arsenal have played Manchester City twice to date this season, drawing 1-1 on the Emirates Stadium within the Premier League and losing 2-0 within the Carabao Cup final at Wembley.
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