 Martin Keown has offered a defence of Casemiro and believes the Manchester United midfielder's struggles so far this season are the consequence of manager Erik ten Hag's tactics. Manchester United news, exclusives and analysis Sign up Privacy Policy The Brazilian has been the most dribbled-past player in the Premier League in the first four matches of the season, with Wolves' midfielders bypassing him at will before Spurs ripped through him in the second half of their 2-0 victory last month. Despite United beating Nottingham Forest, Casemiro again looked vulnerable on transition but both he – and the entire team – looked far more compact and solid against Arsenal despite being on the losing team. The 31-year-old has been singled out for his poor displays, but Keown feels the fault lies with Ten Hag's tactics and setups and says the United manager cannot leave Casemiro alone at the base of the midfield when dangerous Brighton visit Old Trafford on Saturday. 'Casemiro has been sitting deep with Christian Eriksen and Bruno Fernandes further forward, either side of him. United are the Premier League's worst culprits for letting opponents dribble past them and Casemiro tops the list,' wrote Keown in his Daily Mail column. 'But it does not help that the 31-year-old Brazilian is often left on his own to deal with the flood of opposition players coming through the middle. 'In the defeat by Arsenal, when keeper Andre Onana had the ball, Casemiro was dropping between the centre backs. That takes United's most combative midfielder away from the centre and tasks Eriksen and Fernandes with winning the ball back when they lose possession. Casemiro has looked very rusty at the start of the new season (Picture: Getty) 'United have not looked comfortable in the system and, against Arsenal, they often resorted to long passes in the hope Marcus Rashford could make something of a one-v-one opport){kind=link}
NEWS… BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT
Martin Keown has offered a defence of Casemiro and believes the Manchester United midfielder’s struggles so far this season are the consequence of manager Erik ten Hag’s tactics.
Manchester United news, exclusives and analysis
The Brazilian has been the most dribbled-past player in the Premier League in the first four matches of the season, with Wolves’ midfielders bypassing him at will before Spurs ripped through him in the second half of their 2-0 victory last month.
Despite United beating Nottingham Forest, Casemiro again looked vulnerable on transition but both he – and the entire team – looked far more compact and solid against Arsenal despite being on the losing team.