Joshua Zirkzee and Casemiro of Manchester United are receiving recognition for their contributions to Bruno Fernandes’ outstanding free kick in Sunday afternoon’s 1-1 draw with Arsenal. Although the Red Devils’ captain was first praised for what appeared to be a solo stroke of genius, it is now seen as a skilfully performed team effort.
Shortly before halftime, Fernandes broke the tie by looping his free kick over the Arsenal wall and into David Raya’s net’s top-right corner. Referee Anthony Taylor’s choice to place the wall 11.2 yards from the kick spot—slightly beyond the allowed 10-yard—sparked criticism, though, as it made it simpler for the Portuguese midfielder to get over the obstacle.
Although Jamie Redknapp spent considerable of his post-match analysis focussing on the acts of Zirkzee and Casemiro that made Fernandes’ life easier, it is important to remember the involvement of his teammates in setting up the goal.
Casemiro and Joshua Zirkzee Receive Accolades for Their Free-Kick Setup
The pair is being praised for its astute placement.
Both Casemiro and Zirkzee, who put in strong performances over the weekend, are credited with blocking the Arsenal goalkeeper’s line of sight prior to Fernandes’ incredible free kick (see the goal below). Jamie Redknapp, a commentator for Sky Sports, stated: “I want to explain why I think this is so hard to stop. The striker of the ball must be given credit first, and then I want to examine Zirkzee and Casemiro.
“What they do really well is that Raya, the goalie, has a nice gap, which is exactly what you want because you might be able to see it as he’s hit it.
“But see what Casemiro and Zirkzee do when he arrives to the ball. Thomas Partey is taken across. Suddenly, the space is closed, so Raya won’t be able to see the ball again until it has crossed the wall.”
Bruno Fernandes’ incredible free kick from the stands 😍 pic.twitter.com/sb9OjQ9A1z
— centredevils. (@centredevils) March 9, 2025
In the Premier League, the draw moved Man United up one spot to 14th place, underscoring the difficulties Ruben Amorim continues to have in defining the team’s identity. Nonetheless, United’s defensive tenacity throughout the game will serve as motivation for the incoming manager, and their resolve to generate counterattack opportunities offers a strong base on which to build.
United will want to maintain that momentum going into their Europa League Round of 16 second-leg matchup against Real Sociedad on Thursday night following a 1-1 draw in the first leg.
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