Why Arsenal should be wary of Burnley and trip to Turf Moor
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High on confidence after a run of seven consecutive wins, many will be expecting Arsenal to make short work of Burnley but the Gunners should not underestimate their opponents.
Second bottom in the Premier League but two points from safety, the Clarets have given a good account of themselves all season with Sean Dyche instilling the same fighting spirit that saw Burnley defy the odds to earn promotion last term.
It’s that element of defiance that has seen them earn points against some of the top-flight’s best sides with the Clarets proving to be a hard-working and cohesive unit throughout the campaign.
In fact, West Brom are the only side to have inflicted a defeat by a margin of four goals or more on the Lancashire outfit.
Burnley took a point from Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, claimed four from Manchester City over two impressive displays, beat Southampton at home and most recently took a point from Tottenham.
Of the top seven teams in the Premier League, only Liverpool have managed to “do the double” over Burnley, winning home and away, with the encounter between the pair at Turf Moor on Boxing Day proving a tight affair decided by a single Raheem Sterling goal.
Having dispatched the Clarets with a 3-0 victory at the Emirates earlier this season, Arsenal can join those hallowed ranks with a win this Saturday.
But Arsene Wenger will know only too well that things don’t always go to plan at Turf Moor.
The Frenchman has been foiled on his last two visits to the ground, drawing 1-1 when the teams met in the Premier League back in 2009 and losing a League Cup tie between the sides in 2008.
Having won five on the bounce away from north London, the Gunners nevertheless represent formidable opponents, but Burnley are no walkovers at home either.
The Clarets have lost just three of their last 12 games at Turf Moor and with Dyche’s side possessing a game in hand on relegation rivals QPR and Aston Villa, any kind of positive result could provide a major boost to their survival prospects, meaning they could yet play for a draw.
Arsenal, you have been warned.
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