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How Manchester United cope without Casemiro against Arsenal

Casemiro clapping Manchester United fans - How Manchester United cope without Casemiro against Arsenal - Tony O'Brien/REUTERS
Casemiro clapping Manchester United fans - How Manchester United cope without Casemiro against Arsenal - Tony O'Brien/REUTERS

Casemiro’s fifth booking of the Premier League campaign, in United’s 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace on Wednesday night, means he is suspended for Sunday’s clash against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. The reaction at Selhurst Park, on and off the pitch, at Casemiro’s yellow card spoke volumes about his importance.

This is bad news for Manchester United, right?

Yes, in a word. Erik ten Hag likes to call Casemiro the “cement between the stones” and it is hard to believe someone was not punching the air chez Arteta after seeing the Brazil midfielder ruled out of the game against the league leaders. The statistics show that United concede far fewer goals, shots and fouls and make more recoveries and interceptions when Casemiro is on the pitch. They are also a much more cohesive attacking unit and much more precise in the final third for his presence.

Against a team like Arsenal, who disorganise opponents so well, are excellent at finding space and move the ball so quickly and slickly, Casemiro’s absence will be a loss.

Is it all doom and gloom?

Well, no. United, remember, beat Arsenal without Casemiro in their 3-1 victory at Old Trafford in early September. Arsenal were the better team in the first half and were unfortunate to trail 1-0 but United’s reaction after Mikel Arteta’s side equalised on the hour was impressive, with Marcus Rashford scoring twice.

Can Ten Hag adopt a similar approach to the Man City game?

Very possible. Against City, United operated a midfield trio of Casemiro, Fred and Christian Eriksen but with Bruno Fernandes, who is ordinarily a No 10, stationed off the right but tasked with drifting inside to provide an extra man when United transitioned quickly. It helped to create a couple of good scoring chances in the first half of Saturday’s 2-1 against the champions and Ten Hag cited Fernandes as his man of the match.

Scott McTominay would have to come in for Casemiro although he has not started a league match since the 6-3 derby demolition at City and will need to find the form he showed in the opening weeks of the campaign before making way for the Brazilian.

How about a back five?

It is feasible and perhaps something Ten Hag will consider. Either Luke Shaw could move inside and partner Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez with Tyrell Malacia at left back or Victor Lindelof come in to allow Shaw to remain at left back and provide greater pace and penetration down the flank.

The midfield configuration would be important and such a system could hinge on Anthony Martial’s availability as Ten Hag would need to operate with two fast split strikers to allow United to hit at speed on the transition. Martial was not fully fit against City and missed the Palace match. Could Antony be trusted through the middle? And it would be a huge game to throw in Alejandro Garnacho from the start or bring back Jadon Sancho, who is now back in full training with the first team.

This is why Ten Hag wants another midfielder, isn't it?

Absolutely. United need another injection of quality in that area and it is easy to understand why Ten Hag would like to recruit a player such as Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong, West Ham's Declan Rice or Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham. The questions about McTominay and Fred aside, Eriksen tires notably after an hour, which is understandable for a 30-year-old who suffered a cardiac arrest 18 months ago, but there is no obvious alternative.

The priority is a new striker, and the problems in attack when Marcus Rashford does not fire are clear for all to see, but Ten Hag will hope the team finish in the Champions League and sell well this summer so there is the money to buy another leading midfielder in addition to a centre-forward.