De Ligt's return to Manchester United is postponed! Carrick explains Casemiro's departure and aims to prevent Arsenal from setting a record.

At Friday’s Premier League pre-match press conference, Manchester United manager Carrick confirmed that Dutch center-back De Ligt’s injury has worsened. He had hoped De Ligt would resume normal training next week, but now the return will be delayed by several more weeks. The 26-year-old has been sidelined with a back injury since the 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace on November 2, increasing the importance of teammate Harry Maguire.

Currently, De Ligt and his Dutch compatriot Zirkzee are the only two injured players at Manchester United. Zirkzee claims he needs two weeks to recover, while English media suggest it could be several weeks. Carrick explained: "Matthijs (De Ligt) had minor injuries before I arrived, which didn't have much impact, but his recovery has been much slower than expected. He’s gradually getting healthier, I can’t give a timeline yet, but hopefully, he will return to full fitness in the coming weeks. Having him back will definitely be great."

Injury experts point out that although back injuries do not hinder daily activities, they significantly affect competitive sports and can easily develop into chronic problems. At the start of the season, De Ligt was considered the team’s new iron man, starting every match, but unexpectedly, his "fragile" trait from his Bayern Munich days has returned. During his two years at Bayern, De Ligt missed seven games due to injuries.

Despite De Ligt’s setback, Manchester United has no new injury concerns. Carrick believes the team has no reason to fear Arsenal. "I won’t disclose my lineup," Carrick said. "In fact, not all players perform excellently every game, but it’s been a very good week. The team has achieved important results, players have performed well, and the home atmosphere has been lively. We need to draw encouragement and confidence from the matches while staying calm, grounded, and balanced. There’s another crucial match ahead; one win doesn’t make us a strong team, but it lays a solid foundation. The squad is confident and positive now, but we understand the challenges ahead and must prepare thoroughly."

Arsenal is highly likely to end their over 20-year trophy drought in the Premier League this season. Additionally, Arteta has recently led the team to four consecutive wins against Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium, setting a record for home victories over the Red Devils. If they win on Sunday, Arsenal will become the first team in 46 years to achieve five consecutive home wins against Manchester United. The last to do so was West Brom from 1976 to 1980.

Moreover, Arsenal has remained unbeaten in their last six league matches against Manchester United, but they have never achieved seven consecutive matches without defeat against the Red Devils! Arteta’s record against Manchester United stands at 8 wins, 2 draws, and 2 losses in 12 games, with a 67% win rate—the highest among all managers who have faced United at least five times.

Carrick hopes to prevent Arsenal from setting another record against Manchester United. He said, "I’m really looking forward to this match. It’s undoubtedly a huge challenge. Arsenal is a very strong team, and their strengths are obvious. Their current success in the Champions League is no accident; we are fully aware of that, so we will not underestimate them. But we believe we are in a good position to approach the game with full determination and passion. Although the road is tough, we are confident in achieving a positive result."

The Manchester United manager added, "We have clearly identified what we need to do and how to achieve our goals. Arsenal is in a very advantageous position in building their squad and acquiring players. Mikel (Arteta) has made a tremendous contribution; his work is outstanding. We also have our own plans and methods and are working hard towards that goal."

Manchester United used a strikerless formation against Manchester City, with Mbemou playing as the center forward, and Sheshko didn’t appear at all. Regarding tactics against Arsenal, Carrick said, "Each player has different characteristics. I gave Bryan (Mbemou) more freedom to move, and through cooperation with Bruno (Fernandes), he can operate in various positions. Benjamin (Sheshko) has performed well defensively and scored several goals in recent weeks, showing great form. Joshua (Zirkzee) can play multiple roles and is good at involving teammates. Different styles suit different matches. Having this flexibility is beneficial. Matheus (Cunha)’s inward runs also played an important role in the second half; he assisted the second goal. We have many excellent players to choose from. Last week, we chose that tactic, and fortunately, it succeeded."

Regarding Sheshko’s position, Carrick stated, "His form has not declined. Last week’s lineup was designed for a specific tactic, but he is currently in good shape and trains hard. We are working with him to do everything possible to help him improve. His performance is impressive, especially his finishing ability. I believe we should continue supporting him and help him use the past month’s efforts as a crucial foundation for success, enabling him to maintain a high level long-term."

Another uncertain position for Manchester United is right-back. Mazraoui has returned from the Africa Cup of Nations and is considered a possible replacement for the heavily criticized Diogo Dalot. "I think Diogo (Dalot) performed well last week. Although he received a yellow card, he still effectively defended against Manchester City’s winger for the rest of the match, which should not be overlooked," Carrick said. "I’m very satisfied with his performance. Overall, the team’s form has been inconsistent, and players find it hard to reach their best. Diogo is focused, eager to achieve good results, and loves the club—that’s undeniable. As I said, he did well last week and laid a good foundation for the future."

Manchester United officially announced that Casemiro will leave after his contract expires this season. Carrick said this decision was made before he took charge. "The announcement was made to clarify the situation and avoid misunderstandings. The decision was made before I became coach, not impulsively. I spoke with him; he is very eager to achieve good results this season and end his Manchester United career on a high note. His personality and character were evident in his performance last week. His mental state is excellent, and he is determined to finish the season strongly. Seeing his attitude, I have no doubts at all."