Their most recent meeting may have been a controversy-packed 2-2 draw but former star Theo Walcott reckons Sunday’s clash with could prove a quiet affair.

’s Gunners might be nine points behind leaders by kick off (Arne Slot's side visit on Saturday), meaning little room left for error. And while the table may suggest they need to take the game to champions, Walcott is expecting a cagey encounter.

“I feel like, at times, these teams can cancel each out in big games,” he said. “It’s going to be tight, not a high scoring game at all. Arsenal have been a bit indifferent but they are still in the title race for me.

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“There’s always gonna be that thought process about strikers. But look at where they are at without a striker. They're doing okay, put it that way.”

A win for City would move them to within three points of Arsenal and Walcott reckons they are now fully out of crisis mode.

There is, however, a risk that Wednesday’s efforts to progress from the may have taken a toll on ’s squad - especially when already-qualified Arsenal were able to make wholesale changes.

Speaking at a More Than A Game school visit, Walcott added: “Man City are starting to be the City that we know.

“Players are coming back fit, the confidence is flowing through again but they might have been distracted a little bit with the Champions League.”

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