CANCELO AVAILABLE AFTER ROBBERY ORDEAL
JOAO CANCELO has travelled to London and will be available for Manchester City at Arsenal today despite being the target of a traumatic robbery. The full back was left with facial injuries inflicted by four intruders inside his own home on Thursday night. Cancelo had fought back against the burglars with his partner, Daniela, and two-year-old daughter inside the house. The 27-year-old’s jewellery was stolen during the ordeal. City’s player liaison staff visited the property to offer support to the family and Greater Manchester Police are investigating the incident. Cancelo’s physical and mental wellbeing were checked in the hours before Pep Guardiola’s squad made their way down to the capital ahead of today’s Premier League clash at Arsenal. The Portugal international was deemed fit enough to form part of the squad and is available for selection at the Emirates Stadium. Cancelo (pictured after the robbery) has been in stunning form this season, scoring three goals and recording seven assists. Kyle Walker returned to training this week after illness and is pushing for inclusion against Arsenal, with Oleksandr Zinchenko also hopeful of a recall at left back. Meanwhile, Guardiola has claimed City are surprised that they have taken control of the title race. City fell five points behind then leaders Chelsea at the end of October with defeat by Crystal Palace but have won their 10 matches since. That has prompted a 13-point swing, with the defending champions looking to extend their advantage in the capital this lunchtime before Chelsea host Liverpool tomorrow. ‘It’s an unexpected situation,’ Guardiola said. ‘Not even a month ago we were four or five points behind Chelsea and Liverpool. ‘Don’t be extremely satisfied when the situation is going good and not extremely depressed (when it’s not). With this amount of games — and I learned a little bit last season because of the Covid situation — being relaxed is the best way to approach the next one.’
City were heavily criticised following lacklustre displays against Palace and in a home draw with Southampton earlier in the campaign but are threatening to rack up a run of consecutive victories akin to last season, when they offered the chasing pack no hope. ‘Thinking about the long runs is stupid,’ Guardiola added. ‘It’s just what’s next, be ready and the most important thing is the desire and the commitment. The team has to say, “Yeah, I want to do it, I want to go there, and try to go again”. ‘We have five or six incredible strikers. Raheem (Sterling) and Riyad (Mahrez) were the best players against Leicester and at Brentford they didn’t play. ‘In this kind of period everyone will be involved. And everyone makes their incredible contribution and that is why we are where we are.’