PL PREVIEW: Burnley v Arsenal

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Build-up as the Clarets look to complete historic double against Arsenal

2021-03-06T11:15:39.495Z

PL PREVIEW: Burnley v Arsenal

Build-up as the Clarets look to complete historic double against Arsenal

2021-03-06T11:15:39.495Z

Build-up as the Clarets look to complete historic double against Arsenal

The Clarets play their last home game for more than a month when they meet Arsenal in a lunch-time kick-off.

The visit of the Gunners will end a sequence of seven of their last 10 Premier League games at Turf Moor for Burnley ahead of back-to-back away fixtures either side of an extended international break.

Sean Dyche’s men have won just once in that run but have also been beaten only once and have picked up vital points with a run of draws.

A total of 29 points has kept the Clarets six points clear of the relegation places and if they can repeat a first Premier League win over Arsenal from December, they would move just five points behind the Londoners and in touch with the mid-table pack.

Tenth-placed Arsenal have a fight on their hands to reach a European qualification place, although they remain in this season’s Europa League.

And Clarets’ striker Matej Vydra knows the Clarets must replicate the form they showed in drawing 1-1 with third-placed Leicester City in mid-week to get anything from the Gunners and break the 30-point barrier.

“We have proved we can play against top sides. Leicester is a very good side,” said Vydra, whose first Premier League goal of the season against the Foxes is likely to earn him a 50th top-flight appearance for Burnley on Saturday.

“We are looking forward to playing against Arsenal.

“We need to be focused in every single game and play like we did in the second half against Leicester.”

Team news

The Clarets could have widemen Johann Berg Gudmundsson and Robbie Brady back in their squad following three-game absences.

PL PREVIEW: Southampton v Burnley - Image 2

Midfielder Jack Cork faces a check on a hamstring strain sustained in the mid-week draw with Leicester and striker Ashley Barnes (thigh) remains sidelined.

Arsenal may be without midfielder Emile Smith Rowe but have no other injury concerns.

Form guide

The Clarets have won one in eight in the Premier League but have lost just one of their last five games to sit 15th in the table on 29 points – six clear of the bottom three.

Sean Dyche’s men have drawn their last four home league games and have been beaten just twice at Turf Moor in the league since the end of October.

Arsenal have won their last two games, including a Europa League victory over Benfica which has given them a last-16 tie against Olympiakos.

The 10th-placed Gunners have won just two of their last six domestic league games, however, and have only once lost more games than their current tally of 11 defeats in a 38-game Premier League season.

Burnley’s 1-0 win at Arsenal in December has set up a possible first double over the Londoners in 58 years.

Opposition dug-out

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta told his club’s website: "It’s a really tough match. I think it’s remarkable what the club, Sean (Dyche) and the coaching staff have done in recent years with the resources that they have, the style of play they have implemented and how well they execute it and how efficient they are.

“I quite enjoy [going to Turf Moor] because it's what the Premier League is about, going into those grounds and making it happen, being able to compete against a style that is very defined and executed to perfection. That's a big credit.

“From my side, they merit much more credit for what they do than what they sometimes get. It's admiration as a coach that he's able to get the best out of that group of players, the results that they have as a club, to create the atmosphere that they do at that stadium.

“It's all credit to them because they believe in what they do. I think that's really nice for the English Premier League.”

Match stats

Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope is set to play his 100th Premier League game – all for the Clarets.

Matej Vydra is set to play in his 50th Premier League game for the Clarets.

Striking colleague Jay Rodriguez could play in his 200th Premier League game and 59th for Burnley after 104 previous top-flight appearances for Southampton and 37 for West Bromwich Albion.

The last time Burnley did the double over Arsenal was 58 years ago thanks to 2-1 win at Turf Moor and 3-2 victory at Highbury in May 1963.

Burnley last won a home league game against Arsenal in 1973.

A fifth successive home draw would set a top-flight record for the Clarets.

Referee

Andre Marriner

VAR

Kevin Friend

Kick-off

12.30pm Saturday

Broadcast

BT Sport, Clarets+ commentary