03 March 2023 , 09:35
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Gary Neville has insisted that Arsenal and Manchester City can't exactly relax with in-form Manchester United breathing down their necks in the title race, especially with the form Casemiro is in.
Currently, it is the Gunners who sit top of the pile on 60 points. That tally is five more than second-placed City and 11 more than third-placed United, who Neville has conceded he doesn't feel will be able to go the distance this term despite a promising debut season under boss Erik ten Hag.
With that being said, the ex-Old Trafford regular has singled out one United player in particular who Neville feels will be giving both Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola a headache as the campaign's final furlong approaches.
Morale is high around the red half of Manchester given Ten Hag's men have dumped Barcelona out of the Europa League and won the Carabao Cup within the last fortnight. In that time, one United player has stood out for the calming, authoritative presence he brings to the side.
Casemiro's £60million fee following his switch from Real Madrid raised eyebrows at the time, from Neville included, but nobody is questioning that figure now with the Brazilian transforming United so far this term.
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Following Wednesday night's 3-1 FA Cup fifth-round home victory against West Ham, Neville waxed lyrical over Casemiro once again for the way he instructs those around him.
Casemiro's influence at Manchester United is growing (Getty Images)HAVE YOUR SAY! Can Casemiro guide United to an unlikely title victory this term? Comment below
Neville highlighted one moment in particular, where Casemiro exchanged words with team-mate Bruno Fernandes before the latter whipped in a free-kick.
"Casemiro went and told him… he pointed at the spot, I don’t know if anyone remembers it, there was about 10 or 15 minutes to go," he recalled to Sky Sports. "He said ‘put it there and I’m going to head it’ – Bruno put it there and he actually went and headed it!
"He just looks at this moment in time that he is in complete control of that team, He looks like such a dominant force.
"I feel myself that they (Man Utd) are not going to win the [Premier League] title but I would not like Casemiro chasing me down if I was Arsenal or Manchester City. He’s the type of person on his own who could have a massive impact."
He's certainly made his mark this season and has helped get United over the line in some huge games. It was Casemiro who opened the scoring against Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final just last month.
With Marcus Rashford in the form of his life and Casemiro exuding quality with every passing match-week, both Arsenal and City will have at least one eye on United as the Red Devils aim for a late title surge.
It is not something United themselves are thinking about, however, as Ten Hag explained back in January: "The fans may dream [of the title] but we're not. We have to keep our feet on the ground and face that in our game there's a lot to improve."