Premier League leaders Arsenal have been handed a massive advantage ahead of their clash with Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium as the visitors will be without the banned Casemiro for the trip.
The Gunners head into the game eight points clear at the top of the Premier League, with the chasing Red Devils failing to reduce that deficit after being held to a draw against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Wednesday evening courtesy of a wondergoal from Michael Olise.
WOW! Michael Olise has just ROBBED Man Utd of all three points with an unreal free-kick! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/lGysJsPi1L
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 18, 2023
That lead could be cut to five points should Manchester City beat Tottenham on Thursday night, but Mikel Arteta’s side will have the chance to bounce back against Erik ten Hag’s side, in which a win would take them 11 points clear of the Red Devils.
And to that end, they have been handed a major boost as key man Casemiro will be forced to watch from the stands after picking up a yellow card ten minutes from time for a high lunge on Wilfried Zaha.
Erik ten Hag on Casemiro’s yellow card: “He went for the ball”. pic.twitter.com/zgARVpcsCI
— Jason Soutar (@jbsoutar) January 18, 2023
Speaking after the game, Erik ten Hag was bullish in his side’s chances even without the Brazilian, whose introduction has been key to their nine consecutive Premier League wins ahead of their trip to South London, defending his midfielder’s challenge as ‘instinctive’.
“I think it’s instinctive. He missed the ball. It’s quite clear it have been a dangerous situation. He wanted to stop it and that was his reaction.’
Meanwhile, David de Gea bemoaned the fixture list, which has given Arsenal a full week to prepare for the clash.
“‘[It’s a] big blow to lose Casemiro for Sunday”, he admitted. “I don’t get it why Arsenal don’t play as we have to play in the same week and they don’t. Now we are missing one of our best players. I don’t understand. Now we miss him for a big game and it is a big loss for us.”
