Arsenal’s clash with Manchester City will be decided by ‘moments’ and ‘mistakes’ says Joe Cole

Arsenal booked a place in the Champions league semi-finals with a 1-0 aggregate win over Sporting CP (Getty)

Former Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole claimed that this weekend’s Premier League match between Arsenal and Manchester City will be decided by “mistakes” and “moments”, with Pep Guardiola’s side “absolutely the favourites” to win.

Arsenal currently have a six-point lead at the top of the Premier League though City have a game in hand, and they could cut the lead to just three points with a win at the Etihad this weekend.

While City have found form in recent weeks, with big wins over Liverpool and Chelsea, Arsenal have stumbled domestically, exiting the FA Cup at the hands of Southampton and losing in the league last weekend to Bournemouth.

And though the Gunners fought to a 0-0 draw to Sporting on Wednesday night to secure a place in the Champions League semi-finals, Cole was quick to “encourage perspective”, explaining that Mikel Arteta’s side “are not playing well” at the moment.

Cole explained that “there wasn’t much between the teams” during City’s 2-0 win in the Carabao Cup final, adding that he expected it to be the same this weekend.

“I still think in this one-off it’ll be moments within the game, it’ll be mistakes [that decide the game]. It’ll be edgy, blocked off,” he added.

“Absolutely City are favourites. I don’t think it bothers them. He’s [Pep Guardiola] playing mind games with everyone else,” explained Cole, though he insisted that “if Arsenal can avoid defeat, I think they win the league”.

Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown said that his old side just need to “find form” in the run-in, though he did concede that “City have found their mojo again” in recent weeks.

Arsenal will face Atletico Madrid in the Champions league semi-finals as they continue their quest for a double (Getty)

While City’s last loss in the league came as far back as January, they have recently drawn to both West Ham and Nottingham Forest, while they were soundly beaten by Real Madrid in the round of 16 in Europe.

However, Arsenal have had their own struggles in recent weeks too, notably in that League Cup final loss in late March, though they will head to the Etihad knowing that even a draw could be enough to secure the title down the line.

The Gunners have just six games left in the league as they look to land a first Premier League title since 2004, while City have seven matches to go, with the date for their game in hand against Crystal Palace not yet set.