Manchester United veteran Casemiro has conceded that Arsenal are the “team to beat” as he prepares for his final clash against the Gunners as a Red Devil this Sunday.
The high-stakes derby at the Emirates Stadium finds both clubs in starkly different positions. Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal sit at the top of the Premier League table with 50 points, while United trail in fifth place with 35. Speaking to ESPN, Casemiro was candid about the challenge ahead.
“The Team Playing the Best Football”
“Without a doubt, it’s the most difficult game. They are in a very good moment,” Casemiro admitted. “Even when they don’t play at their best, they find ways to win. They are certainly the favorites for the title and the team playing the best football in England right now.”
The Brazilian international also highlighted Arsenal’s attention to detail, specifically their recent hiring of throw-in specialist Thomas Gronnemark. “It’s a game of details. Their set pieces are a massive threat that we must be extremely careful with,” he added.
Team News and Predicted Lineups
Michael Carrick’s side will be without the injured Matthijs de Ligt, forcing a defensive reshuffle. Meanwhile, Arsenal are missing Calafiori and young prospect Max Dowman, with Piero Hincapié remaining a doubt.
Predicted Manchester United XI (4-3-3): Lammens; Dalot, Maguire, Lisandro Martínez, Luke Shaw; Casemiro, Ugarte, Bruno Fernandes; Dorgu, Amad Diallo, Benjamin Sesko.
Predicted Arsenal XI (4-3-3): Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel Magalhães, Timber; Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi, Martin Ødegaard; Bukayo Saka, Trossard, Viktor Gyökeres.
Match Details
- Fixture: Arsenal vs Manchester United
- Date: Sunday, January 25, 2026
- Kick-off: 16:30 (GMT) / 11:30 (ET)
- Venue: Emirates Stadium, London
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Ronald Mike is a football writer covering the English Premier League, providing match analysis, tactical insight, and coverage of key rivalries and title races across the season.
