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Posted by Sam Brydges on 12/15/2009

Tomorrow night really can't come quick enough for me as we welcome back Arsenal to the scene of their Carling Cup decline last season with the prospect of another tough night in the north ahead of them. The fact that Owen Coyle has demanded his players go "toe to toe" with the Londoners should make things particularly difficult for Arsene Wenger's men (we're not ruling out an ambush as they get off the team bus).

Night time Turf Moor triumphs over the likes of the Gunners and Manchester United, as well as the Tottenham semi final epic have set the bar as some of the most memorable evenings in our recent history. The darkness seems to descend a special atmosphere around Turf Moor that makes the hairs on the back of your neck instantly stand to attention.

I’ve had a feeling for a while now that this game could provide another similarly thrilling encounter where we run our big time opponents close, ride our luck and in the end secure a positive result. After four games without a win upsetting the form book with a surprise three points isn’t beyond the realms of possibility. That’s especially the case when you look at Arsenal’s injury problems. Arsene Wenger is already without Van Persie, Clichy, Gibbs and Eboue and also has doubts over Fabregas, Arshavin, Gallas, Walcott and Traore.

Prior to tomorrows game, one of our other Carling Cup Capital Punishment victims of last year Fulham escaped further retribution with a one all draw at the weekend. Back at the Turf after two defeats on the road we earned ourselves a hard fought point against Roy Hodgon’s men. The Cottages produced an extremely organised display and have definitely been put together tremendously well by the man with the game’s greatest accent. The spine of their team is pretty solid and is sprinkled with talented footballers all over the park.

Burnley’s best play in the first half came down the right hand side as Chris Eagles and Tyrone Mears time and time again threatened with excellent link up play that kept Paul Konchesky on his toes. But other than that it was a fairly disjointed performance in the opening forty five minutes as we struggled to make an impact in midfield while our back four were kept busy by the lively Duff and Zamora.

The breakthrough came when we were punished for not reacting to a quick free kick and as the skipper Steven Caldwell misjudged the resulting ball the excellent Bobby Zamora was left through on goal to open the scoring.

Zamora may be criticised for his lack of goals but his hold up play was sensational as he time and time again brought his midfield into the game. If he can continue such form and start to put the ball in the net on a regular basis then he could definitely be challenging Carlton Cole to replace Emile Heskey as England’s target man option after next years World Cup.

With a second home defeat of the season staring us in the face, the crowd rallied as Burnley surged forward to try and make amends. After a fantastically whipped low cross from Stephen Jordan was only half cleared the ball dropped Wade Elliot who drew things level with a fabulous volley. Hopefully the strike will give Elliot a touch more confidence as he seems to have struggled to make an impact over the last couple of games he's played in central midfield.

Once we switched to 4-4-2 we looked more much comfortable, the introduction of the lively David Nugent always seems to help the side look more dangerous and provide us with the extra dimension we sometimes so desperately lack. Kevin McDonald also adds more balance and substance to the midfield, but never seems to be given his chance in our regular system of three central midfielders. Against Manchester City he was deployed on the left hand side and in his start against Pompey and the majority of his other subs appearances he’s played alongside Grezza in a reverted 4-4-2.

I would love to see both Nugent and McDonald included in the starting eleven tomorrow night; but whatever eleven is picked by Owen Coyle I’m sure that with another electric atmosphere inside Turf Moor we will raise our game and get at them from the first whistle. If we can keep things close who can bet against us pushing Arsenal all the way and making it another famous night on the pitch (and carpark) in the history of Burnley Football Club.

Comments

Posted by Goonerinho on 12/15/2009

burnleyareoverlyconfident@dontcry.com

:)

Posted by Hugo on 12/15/2009

I've always liked the Burnley underdog story and with your home record and our record in the north this one seems to have 'upset' written all over it, so much so that it would barely even be considered an upset! However, I'm fully expecting us to follow up Sunday's win with a strong confirmation that we're back in the title race and have a feeling this will be a lot more comfortable than people think: 4-1 to The Arsenal.

Posted by jimmymac on 12/15/2009

Its gonna be tough- but if Arsenal are without the likes of Gallas and Fabregas then who knows- with OC in charge anythings possible!

Posted by dingledan on 12/15/2009

We've done it before...hope we can do it again. Come on you clarets!

Posted by cj on 12/15/2009

Both Fabregas and Gallas are starting - unlucky.

Posted by jimmymac on 12/15/2009

but are they both fully fit? could be unlucky for you cj

Posted by adam on 12/15/2009

hmmmm anyone who compares arsenals carling cup team to there league team is a " mug"

as for going " toe to toe" dont you think every manager says that to their team before they play the best footballing / attacking side in england, or is it just owen coyle ? pffft makes me laugh, burnley have a great home record this year and are a good well organised team,,, why cant fans leave it at that ? why must every manager go on and on and on about arsenal not being able to cope wi;th bullys and in your face tactics.

SB: What OC actually meant when he said going toe to toe was trying to get the ball down and playing football in a similar way to you lot. It was more of a compliment than a way of pitting your downfall with bully boy tactics. Burnley are hardly capable of bullying many teams, its not their style and never will be under Coyle. And don't "mug" yourself off, nobodys comparing the first team and carling cup team one bit. Just cos it'll be a different side out tonight doesn't mean Burnley aren't capable of a result IF like against Manchester Uniteds first team this season they play out of their skin and we get a huge slice of luck.

Posted by GMR on 12/15/2009

To be honest I really like Burnley, especially your manager. I haven't heard him moan about anything this season so far, if only all managers could follow that lead (including our own Arsene Wenger).

Looking back to our defeat last season, I don't think this match will be anything like it. For a start Wenger will be playing his strongest team possible, not a carling cup side & even on that occasion we had so many chances on the night that we should have won with ease, despite how well you guys started. I think tomorrow will be decided by how well your keeper plays & how clinical our midfield players are (considering we won't have a striker on the pitch).

Whatever happens I sncerely hope you guys stay up & we get to visit again next season!!

Posted by CanGunner on 12/15/2009

even though I am a stalwart gunners supporter I've always had a soft spot for Burnley FC - what Coyle does with the budegt handed him is amazing - Burnley players are paid less than most premiership stars and put in just as much (if not more) hard work. Coyle's transfer window kitty wouldn't pay for Mark Hughes' lunch and yet here are the Clarets storming around the Premiership. As much as I want Arsneal to thrash Burnley - when Burnley do win I love it becuase it is a two finger salute to all the over-paid pampered ladies who play for the big budget teams.
That being said - come on you Gunners!

Posted by Pete on 12/15/2009

Theres alot of ifs and buts in this article...but its happened before!! And not just against the Premier Leagues sides second strings in cup games! So yeah IF like you say burnley play well and get lots of good fortune it could be another night to remember for you guys!!

Posted by Gooni on 12/16/2009

I have a soft spot for Burnley and OC and hope you guys stay up for as long as you can. Here's to a cracking game tonight!

Posted by wandarah on 12/16/2009

owen coyle is an excellent manager.

burnley will run us close tonight, i have no doubt. they'll be hard to breakdown, and hungry - and they're no doubt bigger and hairier than us too.

it'll be up to the lads to stick to quick passing and smart runs without an RvP or Bendy up front. if we have a weak half like we did at 'pool, we won't get lucky again.

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