Casimero picked up a fifth yellow card in their 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace on Wednesday night and will be suspended from the match at Emirates
By Kehinde Okeowo
Manchester United will be without one of their key midfielders when they face Arsenal on Sunday, January 22, after Casimero picked up a fifth yellow card of the season in their 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace on Wednesday night.
Prior to the match, the Brazilian pair of Casimero and Fred were both walking a disciplinary tightrope, as they were sitting on 4 bookings each and faced potential suspension ahead of their crucial encounter against Arsenal.
Had the former Real Madrid midfielder gone through the encounter without a card, the disciplinary record would have been moved to 10 bookings for a ban for the second half of the season.
United would have also leapfrogged Manchester City into second place and gone within six points of Arsenal had they won the encounter at Selhurst Park.
David De Gea speaking on Casemiro missing the trip to Arsenal on Sky Sports said: “I don’t get why Arsenal don’t play as we have to play in the same week & they don’t. Now we are missing one of our best players, I don’t understand. Now we miss him for a big game & it is a big loss for us.”
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However, Arsenal who are in the middle of what could be a season-defining run of fixtures, will see the development as a boost for them, knowing what Casimero’s tactical ability and experience bring to the Red Devils.
The Gunners currently sit 8 points clear of nearest rivals and champions, Manchester City, after dispatching local rivals, Spurs 2-0 in the derby played last weekend.
If they can win the encounter against United on Sunday, they will open an 11 points gap between them and Ten Hag’s men, having played a game less.
