Casemiro and Fred at risk of suspension for Manchester United v Arsenal fixture

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Two Manchester United midfielders are at risk of suspension for Manchester United’s upcoming clash with Arsenal.

United’s team news confirms that a yellow card for either Fred or Casemiro against Crystal Palace, will result in a one-game suspension.

Erik ten Hag‘s side visit Crystal Palace on Wednesday night, followed by a top of the table clash with leaders Arsenal on Sunday.

The Palace game will be United’s 19th Premier League game of the season, the halfway mark. After this point, yellow cards will be reset.

Both Fred and Casemiro have each received four yellow cards. A fifth would result in suspension and missing the game at The Emirates.

Of the two, losing Casemiro would be a far bigger blow. The former Real Madrid midfielder has been a titan in midfield for Erik ten Hag since joining the club.

United did beat Arsenal at Old Trafford with a midfield duo of Scott McTominay and Christian Eriksen, but this away trip is expected to be an even tougher game. United have got so used to being with Casemiro, that to lose him, for such a key fixture, would be a blow.

The simple solution is to leave Casemiro out against Crystal Palace. He could do with a rest, and Scott McTominay could also do with the game time, without a league start since early October.

Casemiro has suffered pain with suspension before, caused to miss the World Cup quarter-final in 2018 against Belgium, which they lost.

Last season he was suspended for Real Madrid’s Champions League second leg against Paris Saint-Germain, which they won.

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Re-arranged game doubly inconvenient

Manchester United’s match with Crystal Palace this week was recently rearranged, postponed from September and slotted into the calendar at short notice.

This was short notice for supporters, and placed a tough away trip for United, in between two difficult games against City and Arsenal.

Now Arsenal, who have no midweek fixture, could profit if Manchester United see either Casemiro or Fred suspended for Sunday’s game.

The suspension risk is extra reason for Erik ten Hag to rotate his squad. Both Fred and Casemiro are players United would rather have available for this Sunday’s showdown.