Leandro Trossard scored midway through the first half to give the Gunners three points at the Theatre of Dreams.
The goal came after Casemiro came short when Andre Onana had the ball, and the Brazilian failed to move up to the defensive line when the Cameroonian cleared the ball – leaving Kai Havertz in acres of space to cross for Trossard.
Casemiro, of course, was playing out of position as United are depleted in central defence.
And, while Ten Hag said Casemiro made a clear mistake, he praised the Brazilian for recovering from Monday’s dismal display at Crystal Palace.
‘On Monday obviously it was not his night but that was collectively a poor performance so everyone looks poor,’ said Ten Hag.
‘You can see he can play there in that position and today he was there in the right level. Absolutely he is a winner, he hates to lose. He has to bring that in the team and that’s what we expect from him.
‘He shouldn’t be there [as close to Onana] in that moment, that’s obvious – he knows that. But the rest was a good performance from him.’
Ten Hag was pressed on why he chose to play Casemiro in central defence.
Scott McTominay, who has played at centre-back for Scotland, returned from injury against the Gunners.
‘I didn’t have options,’ Ten Hag stressed. ‘Kambwala was not fit. Just returning from injury is not fit to start.
‘McTominay? I haven’t seen it but what I heard, was not always a success and I think he’s better in that advanced position, higher up the pitch and there we had our problems.’
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