Manchester United were dealt with a double blow against Crystal Palace, as they dropped two crucial points in 1-1 draw and lost Casemiro to a one-match suspension. The Red Devils could have toppled local rivals Manchester City to the second spot on the league table, only for Patrick Vieira’s electric Palace side to foil their plans. However, missing Casemiro for the next game, which is a trip to London to face Arsenal will be a much bigger loss than that of the two points.

Casemiro has been the main block of Erik ten Hag’s revolution at United, as the £70m signing has literally solved the club’s midfield crisis which was hovering over them for quite a few years now. United have surged up to third in the Premier League despite losing their first two games of the season, thanks to the Brazilian who has provided the team a rock-solid presence in the midfield. His absence however could prove to be the difference in United’s showdown against Arsenal at the weekend.

Ten Hag sends warning to Arsenal over the prospect of facing a Casemiro-less United

Right at the moment when Casemiro was booked for a foul on Wilfried Zaha, Arsenal fans as well as the players themselves must have rejoiced the referee flashing a yellow at the 30-year-old. Casemiro went into the Palace game having accumulated four yellow cards already this season. A fifth at the Selhurst Park would have resulted in a one-match suspension, and yet the midfielder couldn’t do much about it.

The Ivorian winger was on a dazzling run in the 80th minute with his team 1-0 down, and was about to throw another threat at the United goal. And Casemiro knew the memo since his Madrid days, as he brought down electric winger and stood up straight to stare at referee Robert Brooks holding a yellow card in his hand for him. That was Casemiro’s fifth of the campaign, which meant a suspension for the next game.

The five-time Champions League winner will now sit out the Arsenal trip of United, as there’s no doubt he will severely missed at the Emirates. However, his manager Erik ten Hag has played down the talks of the Gunners now holding an advantage as he recalled the fact that his team had beat Mikel Arteta’s side on previous occasion without Casemiro. The Brazil international had featured for only 10 minutes against Arsenal at the Old Trafford as United emerged victorious. Speaking to United’s official website, Ten Hag said:

“I think it’s what you say: it’s instinctive. He [Casemiro] went for the ball, I think he missed the ball but it’s quite clear it was also a situation on our right side that could have been a dangerous situation. He wants to stop it himself and that was his reaction. It’s quite clear. As I’ve said, if we invest more for the second goal then you don’t come into such situations. Obviously he is a really important player for us, he’s one of the reasons we are where we are now. [But] Last time we beat Arsenal without Casemiro, so this time we have to do the same.

“It’s happened, you can’t change this any more. I just said in the dressing room: we’re looking forward. Get energy, look to Arsenal and we will make a proper plan. [The] players have to make sure they are ready for that game because it’s a top game and it’s fantastic to play such games, so we are looking forward. We have a squad, we have to fill the gap, make a proper plan and the squad have to fill it and make sure, as a team. We already showed how to beat Arsenal.”

No matter how much Ten Hag plays down the fact that his midfield will again be back to being fragile without Casemiro, the former Real star will be missed at the Emirates. He has been the engine of this United team, as evident from the impressive track record that the club has lost only 3 of their 26 games wherein Casemiro has featured. Ten Hag will now have to reintroduce Fred in his starting line-up alongside Christian Eriksen, with his backup being the out of favour Scott McTominay.