Gary Neville has defended Erik ten Hag's decision to play Casemiro during Wednesday evening's 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace, but said he expects Arsenal to win on Sunday with United's Brazilian midfielder suspended from the game after picking up a booking at Selhurst Park.
The Brazil international, who has been a revelation since joining United from Real Madrid last summer, collected his fifth booking of the season against Patrick Vieira's side, meaning he will now miss Sunday's huge encounter against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium through suspension. He was cautioned with just ten minutes of normal time left on the clock for a heavy challenge on Wilfried Zaha.
It was an immediate blow for United as they knew the importance of him avoiding another booking ahead of their trip to the Emirates, by which stage the cut-off point for being handed a one-match ban for amassing five yellow cards will have passed. Any player who collects five yellow cards after 19 league games have been played does not have to serve a one-match suspension.
