Anyone who understands how Erik ten Hag works could have predicted Manchester United's starting line up against Crystal Palace.
Ten Hag has preferred to name his strongest team possible for each match his season - he rarely rotates his side - and that meant that Casemiro, who was at risk of picking up a suspension at Selhurst Park, was always bound to start the game.
Those who discussed talk of an unlikely Premier League title challenge after victory in the Manchester derby suggested it was the wrong decision to play Casemiro, as he faced the possibility of being suspended to play Arsenal, but there was objectively more chance of winning three points at Selhurst Park on Wednesday night than at the Emirates on Sunday afternoon.
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Crystal Palace had won just six games and scored 17 goals in the Premier League prior to the match and they were considered the easier opponents on paper when compared to Arsenal, who have scored 42 goals and sit at the summit of the table.
It made sense to attempt to guarantee three points with the strongest team possible against Palace because getting a result at the Emirates - something only Newcastle have done this season - has not been easy.
The decision to start Casemiro looked to be inspired. The three points were on track to be claimed thanks to Bruno Fernandes' goal and the Brazilian had successfully avoided the attention of the referee throughout the game, but that all changed in the last 10 minutes of the contest when he was shown a booking and Palace scored a late equaliser, to make matters worse.
Michael Olise's free-kick, which was scored in the 90th minute, was stunning and a strike worthy of equalising any game, although that did not make the blow of conceding and Casemiro picking up a yellow any softer for supporters.
Casemiro was outstanding at Selhurst Park and the yellow card was the only blemish on his performance. The foul that caused the booking was also a tired but necessary challenge on Wilfried Zaha, whose run forward needed to be stopped.
United would not have led for the majority of the game without Casemiro and if he'd actually been named on the bench, it seems possible they might have failed to even get a point, such was the difference the 30-year-old made.
It could be argued the blame for the suspension lies with the attackers, who failed to put the result beyond doubt. Antony was poor, Wout Weghorst's debut was indifferent and Marcus Rashford, who has shouldered the burden of scoring of late, failed to fire.
Casemiro's foul on Zaha in the 80th minute probably wouldn't have happened with the scoreline at 2-0 and a disgruntled Ten Hag sent a message to his players about the defensive midfielder's suspension for Arsenal in his post-match interview.
"First, this game was important," Ten Hag said. "Every game in the Premier League is a top game. Second is Casemiro is obviously 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 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."
Casemiro will undoubtedly be a colossus absentee at the Emirates but it was right to start him at Selhurst Park. It was a failure to score another goal which meant the points were shared.
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