Manchester United dropped points as they could only manage a 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace. However the main highlight was not the result but it was when Brazilian midfielder Casemiro picked up a yellow card for a foul on Wilfried Zaha with just ten minutes to go in the game. It was his fifth booking of the campaign and it results in one match suspension for the midfielder which means he will miss the big clash against Arsenal.
It was Michel Olise’s stunning freekick right at the dying moments of the game which sealed the draw for the Eagles as he cancelled Bruno Fernandes’ goal for the Red Devils. So now with the draw, United are eight points behind Arsenal, who are at the top of the Premier League table.
However Arsenal will be wary of the Red Devils as well as they are the only team that had managed to beat the Gunners this season. So United will be hoping to repeat that result whereas Mikel Arteta’s men will be looking to carry on their winning momentum and right the wrongs from the past.
While it has been highlighted that United will be without Casemiro against Arsenal and it will be a huge miss for the Red Devils considering how influential he has been for this team. But manager Erik ten Hag is not that tense as he reminded everyone that they did not have Casemiro when they had defeated them early on in the season.
“Last time we beat Arsenal without Casemiro,” said Ten Hag. “Casemiro is obviously a really important player for us and he is one of the reasons that we are in the position that we are now.
Ten Hag shared that the other players will have to fill that role and cover the areas. He feels that there are enough players to rise to the occasion and deliver a noteworthy performance in the Brazilian’s absence in midfield.
“We have a squad and we have to fill that gap and make a proper plan and the squad has to fill it. As a team, we already showed how to beat Arsenal, the Dutchman added.
Lastly speaking on the foul that got him booked, Ten Hag felt that it was more instinctive and the attempt was to win the ball. “I think it’s instinctive, he went for the ball,” he said.
“He missed the ball but it’s quite clear, on our right side, it could have been a dangerous situation. He wants to stop it. That was his reaction, it was quite clear,” he concluded.
Ten Hag will hope that in Casemiro’s absence, the others get more motivated as they take on Premier League leaders Arsenal next and in order to push for the top, United will be looking to be consistent with the brand of football and also with the results.
