Gary Neville criticized Casemiro for his role in Arsenal’s first goal against Manchester United.
The Gunners faced a potentially difficult task in what many considered a must-win game at Old Trafford on Sunday, but early nerves were eased by an early goal from Leandro Trossard.
United were facing that heading into the match, with Erik ten Hag’s side still plagued by injuries and fielding their 14th different centre-back pairing of the season.
Despite a better start than they had in their 4-0 humiliation at Crystal Palace on Monday, it all quickly unraveled with Trossard intervening as Casemiro struggled to advance following a goal kick.
Neville criticized the makeshift defender for his role, insisting the error had nothing to do with the 32-year-old playing out of position.
Gary Neville slammed Casemiro (pictured) for his role in Leandro Trossard’s goal on Sunday
The makeshift defender (left) failed to get up the field, leaving Kai Havertz on the sideline to cross towards the goal.
Neville (pictured) led criticism of the Brazilian, saying he should have used his “game experience” to identify the problem.
“Casemiro has received some criticism recently and he will receive a bit more,” the former United defender said on Sky Sports. “Brilliant on Arsenal’s part, the Arsenal fans in the corner recognize it has been a difficult 20 minutes.
‘As soon as he passes through Amrabat, Casemiro has to get up. Watch him run, you see the ball being played, and once he doesn’t, he’s in trouble. Trossard does what every good wide player does, he makes that diagonal run into the full-back, Wan-Bissaka gets trapped and in the end it’s simple.
“Because of Casemiro’s experience in the game, he should have seen that the ball had broken and where Havertz was, he had to get up a little faster.”
The Brazilian, whose international future was thrown into doubt when he was left out of his country’s Copa America squad despite being captain, has been filling in at the back since United’s FA Cup semi-final against Coventry on April 21.
The Red Devils have since conceded 10 goals in four matches, which included matches against Sheffield United, Burnley and Coventry, and Casemiro is clearly struggling to fill a position he is not familiar with.
The play ended with a cross from Havertz for Trossard to score the first goal of the game at Old Trafford.
Neville described Casemiro’s performance as “a basic error” and stated that “there is no excuse” for not taking the field
Arsenal’s goal came from a home goal kick, with Casemiro showing a short shot before André Onana kicked long.
Arsenal won the ball and, with Casemiro struggling to get up, Kai Havertz was able to make his way behind the rest of the defensive line, staying inside the box and penetrating the area to cross and Trossard would score.
“There’s no doubt it won’t be easy for him,” Neville added. ‘Before in the study they said that he needed more protection, in reality he already had it.
‘That is a basic mistake. You have to get up faster and he comes out and there’s no excuse for that.
