Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has insisted his side can still beat Arsenal without the now suspended Casemiro following his yellow card at Crystal Palace.
The Red Devils went 1-0 up a Selhurst Park after Bruno Fernandes fired home a lethal effort shortly before the interval and for large periods of the second-half it seemed like United were going to secure all three points. However, a 91st minute stunner from Michael Olise rescued a point for the hosts, with the young wide-forward arrowing home a free-kick from distance.
Ten Hag cut a forlorn figure on the bench, with cameras panning to the Dutchman the moment the ball cannoned in off the crossbar for Palace's equaliser. That being said, the first disastrous moment for United actually came 10 minutes before Olise's leveller when midfielder Casemiro clattered into Zaha.
The veteran midfielder was only given a yellow but that is enough to see him suspended for United's trip to league-leaders Arsenal on Sunday. Casemiro's caution against Palace was his fifth of the season meaning he won't be able to feature against the Gunners.
Following the full-time whistle, Ten Hag addressed the tackle and its impact as he told Sky Sports: "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."
Ten Hag was in no mood to surrender any ground to the Gunners however, as he added: "The last time we beat Arsenal without Casemiro so this time we need to do the same."
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He is of course referring to United's 3-1 victory over Mikel Arteta's side at Old Trafford in September, the only league defeat Arsenal have suffered all season.
Though he remained on the pitch until full-time, the impending suspension for Casemiro seemed to have an impact on the United players who looked significantly more fragile following his yellow-card.
Ten Hag could do little more than shake his head to express his disappointment. He knows his task in North London has become significantly harder.
It comes as a massive blow for the Red Devils, who will now have to thwart the influence of the likes of Martin Odegaard, Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka without their own main man in midfield.
United could have gone into the clash at the Emirates knowing a win against the Gunners would have put just three points between the pair, but now even a win for Ten Hag's men on Sunday would see Arsenal above the Red Devils by five points.
To make matters worse from the perspective at Old Trafford, United have played a game more than Arteta's side which could in turn have the Gunners extend more of a gap should they win their game in hand.
