Erik: We’ve beaten Arsenal without Casemiro before

The Brazilian, who joined the Reds less than two weeks before September's reverse fixture at Old Trafford, which United won 3-1, was among our substitutes for that victory over the league leaders.

He was introduced for his home debut in the 80th minute – with the scoreline at the time as it would go on to finish – featuring exclusively in the closing stages, but will be absent for the entirety of this weekend’s trip to the Emirates Stadium, having picked up his fifth yellow card of the Premier League season during the midweek draw at Crystal Palace. 

Our no.18 will serve a one-match suspension as a result on Sunday, which is a blow to United ahead of the big clash, particularly because of the profound impact he has had on Ten Hag's side over recent months.

Notably, he has been named in the starting XI for each of our last 12 matches in the competition, across which we have only lost once.

Despite the midfielder's suspension, Erik remains confident that his team has the quality and know-how to pick up a result in north London.

“Last time we beat Arsenal without Casemiro, so we have an idea of how to do it,” he said, speaking in the first part of his pre-match press conference.

That media briefing was held in the immediate aftermath of Wednesday’s game at Selhurst Park, and therefore the boss was unable to provide any further updates on if our recent absentees, like Diogo Dalot and Anthony Martial, will be available to face Arsenal.

United remain the only team to defeat the Gunners in the league this season, with Mikel Arteta’s side five points clear at the top of the table, and with a game in hand on second-placed Manchester City. 

Ten Hag isn’t surprised by the Londoners’ campaign so far but says the Reds will do everything to break their momentum once again, and believes that we can do so, as we look to continue our own recent form that has seen us go 10 matches unbeaten across all competitions. 

“It’s obvious they are in a really good run, I think they deserve the position where they are now.

“It’s a really good structure, there’s a really good mentality, winning attitude in the team, and that’s why they are now top of the league. 

“They are in a great run but it is up to us to beat that run and we will do everything to do that.

“In the moment we played, you could already see that the manager and coaching staff was already for a long time working on that team,” he continued. 

“You see really good structures in the team and I think that they even improved during the first half of the season. 

“There is a really good spirit as well in that team. 

“We know what to do and we have to be really good, we need a really good performance. If we do, I think we have a good chance to get a good result.”

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