Casemiro picked up his fifth booking of the season during Manchester United's clash against Crystal Palace, forcing him to miss out on their crucial clash against Premier League leaders Arsenal on Sunday.
Since he arrived in the Premier League, Manchester United's Casemiro has played a crucial role in the Red Devil's campaign and is one of the best defensive midfielders in the English top flight. However, the Brazilian is set to miss the team's trip to north London on Sunday when they face table toppers Arsenal after picking up his fifth booking of the season for a foul on Wilfried Zaha during United's 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Wednesday.
Following Casemiro's suspension, Man United boss Erik ten Hag reminded Arsenal that his team could beat the Gunners without the former Real Madrid icon in September. United travel to the Emirates in third place, eight points behind Arsenal, after Michael Olise's spectacular free-kick rescued a draw for Palace in stoppage time.
Ten Hag has instructed his players that it is up to them to make up for Casemiro's absence because United is still the only team to have defeated Arsenal in the Premier League this year. "Last time we beat Arsenal without Casemiro," said the United boss.
"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. 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.
"Last time we beat Arsenal without Casemiro." 🗣️
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is disappointed to be missing Casemiro for the Arsenal game but believes his squad has enough to beat Arsenal again ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/WkO82ipFyp
Meanwhile, football pundit Jamie Redknapp claimed the loss of Casemiro in the crucial match against Arsenal was a huge blow for the Red Devils. "From Man Utd's point of view, it couldn't have gone any worse," Redknapp said post-match on Sky Sports.
"We spoke before the game about Casemiro. Don't get booked. Don't get into any confrontations. It was so important because they need him on Sunday. When he got booked in the 80 minute, it was like the steam was completely taken out of Manchester United. It affected them so much. They knew that there most important player, in that defensive role, was missing," he added.
Redknapp added, "It was a moment of madness. You could see Casemiro was furious with Bruno Fernandes, who jumped out of a (previous) challenge. That's why he ends up one-on-one with Zaha and he gets booked. It could have been a red card. It's a scandalous challenge. It's reckless."
"I could just see Mikel Arteta when that happened dancing around his living room because he is so important to Man Utd. They have got no-one who can do what he does in the team," the former Liverpool and Tottenham star stated.
Redknapp emphasised that the absence of Casemiro has greatly benefited Arsenal, forcing United to make difficult choices in advance of the match to compete with the midfield trio of Granit Xhaka, Martin Odegaard, and Thomas Partey of the Gunners.
"I said before the game if he was to be booked and to miss that game. He is so important. They're going to have to bring in Fred or Scott McTominay. If you look Arsenal at the moment with Odegaard, Xhaka and Partey that midfield is functioning so well," he added.
"I can only really see it benefitting Arsenal in such a huge way. They've got so much confidence right now, which makes them red hot favourites, he's such an important player not in the Premier League. Certain teams function so well and that is what he offers them. He senses danger and they are going to miss him so much for what he brings to the team. For Arsenal it's exactly what they wanted to see today and it's big news for them," Redknapp noted.
Meanwhile, Arsenal and Man United fans are engaged in a war of words on Twitter, with Mikel Arteta's team supporters stating that with or without Casemiro, they would register a win at the Emirates Stadium. United fans, however, believe that they have the firepower to defeat the table toppers for the second time in the season.
"Honestly I’m happy. United have this way of always managing to upset us. Even in the pits they still managed to do something against us. So this run of form they’re on is worrisome. Lemme just wait and see," noted one Arsenal fan.
Another Arsenal supporter added, "Partey was injured when we faced them. It’s fair game."
A United fan remarked, "Today they are celebrating Casemiro’s absence, on Sunday after the game they will be complaining about the Ref and VAR."
Another fan of Erik ten Hag's team added, "I'm expecting a full Partey domination in the middle now. Arsenal fans gassing about him being better than Casemiro. Well, now Arsenal should technically walk all over us, right? All of the pressure for this game is on Arsenal, not United."
Here's a look at some of the other reactions ahead of the Arsenal vs Man United clash on Sunday:
Man United fans: We beat Arsenal without Casemiro
Arsenal fans: This was Mirocase 👇🏾 pic.twitter.com/hFQVHnMkfR
Arsenal fans seeing that Casemiro be suspended for their game on Sunday after picking up a yellow card: pic.twitter.com/dbKHDTT9LG
— B/R Football (@brfootball)Don’t let fool you with the Casemiro suspension guys. Give them your best game on Sunday https://t.co/t5CrMF5vKM
— ❂ Yübbîę Umoh ❂ (@Yubbie007)He will be there https://t.co/oyMc6KuKFn pic.twitter.com/bWZ9mnMZRK
— HIM (@bigm1n_)"Casemiro didn't play the first leg against Arsenal" pic.twitter.com/cg7bhsAbJn
— Piusyefi (@PiusyefiAFC)So, Casemiro got himself suspended for Sunday’s big match against Arsenal, and then missed an absolute sitter at the end to cost Utd victory. Better than Partey? Methinks not..
cc
Such a bummer, he should've been available. https://t.co/e8Din1snFj
— Fanuel (@OwenFanuel)OH THE PAIN IN MY HEART https://t.co/hVYHE3ojaC pic.twitter.com/rpK8Q5oUwR
— Emrah* (@Emrah904)"Arsenal beat us because Casemiro wasn't in the lineup " pic.twitter.com/XobKoQdB7M
— Brad. (@DiabloGooner)Casemiro's 🟨 means he will miss the next game against Arsenal 🤯
Arteta will be delighted 🕺😍 pic.twitter.com/BdjOal3IG1
A friendly reminder that Arsenal held 3 to this squad 5 months ago. Casemiro or not – 1% chance, 99% faith. 🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/rnz2pwgpUL
— 🔰DieHardUTD 🇳🇬 (@UTDndahi)Casemiro ducking the Arsenal test.
— Evan Cooper (@Lacazest)2 points dropped and no Casemiro against Arsenal. This hurts
— Trey (@UTDTrey)Ten Hag: "Last time we beat Arsenal without Casemiro. As a team, we already showed how to beat Arsenal."🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/fb4qTdDg7b
— Bbosa Joseph 🇺🇬 (@bbosa_malusi)Utd fans seeing Casemiro get suspended for the Arsenal game and then conceding a late equaliser. pic.twitter.com/z3ScnDrlcM
— Paddy Power (@paddypower)ETH we beat Arsenal without casemiro. so who is this 😂
no excuse on Sunday we even don't have our best striker Gabi jesus. pic.twitter.com/3KozKkHX56
Thomas Partey missed the match against Man United and Arsenal lost 3-1.
Casemiro will be missing the match on Sunday, what do you think would be the final score? pic.twitter.com/0hfqMpjGRE
Mctominay learning how to play like Casemiro before the arsenal game pic.twitter.com/XUjPMLQ6wS
— Goat (@Goatisgone)Casemiro shouldn't have lasted till 80mins when you know he's just a yellow award from suspension before a big game.
It might cost Man Utd against Arsenal.
Arsenal fans celebrating Casemiro being out tells you everything really…
— SophRicho 🔰 (@SophRicho)If we win against Arsenal, Ten Hag is a genius
If we lose against Arsenal, Casemiro didnt play
Agenda set