Erik ten Hag has already explained how he'll replace the suspended Casemiro for Manchester United's Premier League crunch clash at Arsenal - and it doesn't involve playing Lisandro Martinez in midfield.
Brazil international Casemiro will miss the trip to the Emirates after picking up a yellow card in Wednesday night's draw at Crystal Palace. The holding midfield star will now serve a one-match ban due to an accumulation of bookings.
Casemiro joined United in a £70million deal from Real Madrid and has excelled for Ten Hag's side. He has helped revolutionise the Red Devils with his game awareness, positioning, technical skill and leadership abilities, establishing himself as one of the signings of the summer transfer window.
The Brazilian was motivated by the challenge of joining United after watching the side's humbling four-goal defeat at Brentford in August. After that match, Casemiro texted his agent to say: "Tell them I'll fix this."
The 30-year-old starred in United's derby victory over Manchester City on Saturday as the Red Devils made it nine wins in a row in all competitions and his upcoming absence for the trip to Arsenal will come as a significant blow for Ten Hag – who are eight points off the Gunners in the Premier League title race, having played one game more.
United are however the only side to defeat Mikel Arteta's Gunners in the Premier League this campaign and did so without Casemiro starting the match. The Brazilian had only joined the club weeks previously and had not built up full match fitness for the tie.
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Instead, Scott McTominay partnered Christian Eriksen in the heart of United's midfield, as Fred was introduced midway through the second half and Casemiro replaced Marcus Rashford – who had scored twice – with ten minutes remaining in the match.
There had been a suggestion that Ten Hag may deploy Martinez in the 'Casemiro role', moving the Argentine out of his home in the heart of defence – where Luke Shaw, Victor Lindelof or Harry Maguire could play alongside Raphael Varane.
Martinez joined Ajax as a midfielder but adapted to playing in defence under Ten Hag, who while at Ajax, later explained his selection of players in midfield: "Daley Blind does not have the running capacity to play in midfield. And neither does Martinez."
This appears to rule out the possibility of Martinez featuring in a holding midfield role and it is more likely that McTominay will be reintroduced to the line-up for the trip to north London, as he started the reverse fixture earlier this campaign.
