Man Utd suffer nightmare double suspension as Ruben Amorim handed major Arsenal dilemma

Kobbie Mainoo and Lisandro Martinez both picked up their fifth yellow cards of the season in Manchester United’s 4-0 win over Everton, ruling them out of the Red Devils’ midweek trip to Arsenal.

In the English top flight, players who pick up five cautions before their team has played 19 times are hit with an immediate one-match ban.

Ruben Amorim’s United have started their new era on a positive note, but the Portuguese boss would have been desperate to have Mainoo and Martinez available to face title-chasing Arsenal.

With United leading 3-0 at the time, Mainoo had a yellow brandished after he brought down Dwight McNeil just outside of the United penalty area, stopping a promising attack.

His day could have worsened further after escaping a second booking, having committed another foul later in the half, but avoided another yellow and was quickly substituted off for Mason Mount.

Just two minutes after Mainoo’s suspension was confirmed, Martinez soon followed as he pulled Beto back when the striker was racing in on goal.

Referee John Brooks brought out the yellow card but VAR did check to determine whether it should have been upgraded to red, with Beto protesting that Martinez was the last man, but the close proximity of Matthijs de Ligt likely prevented a sending-off.

Fortunately for Amorim, he does have more options than previous in reserve to come in for Mainoo and Martinez at the Emirates Stadium.

Luke Shaw entered the pitch off the bench on the left of United’s back three against Everton, while Harry Maguire could also deputies there, but either option would likely have to deal with the in-form Bukayo Saka.

Manuel Ugarte was brought on for Mainoo with 10 minutes remaining in the demolition of Everton and will likely join the Brazilian in midfield to face Arsenal.

Though Bruno Fernandes was utilised in that deeper role against Bodo/Glimt and Amorim has also talked up the prospect of Mount featuring more regularly.

United no longer have any players in danger of further suspension against Arsenal, with Mainoo and Martinez the only two to be booked against Everton, every other Red Devil has three or fewer than three bookings this season.