Team news

No new injury problems for Burnley Burnley manager Owen Coyle expects his squad to have recovered from any bumps and bruises in time for Arsenal's visit.

Only long-term absentees Martin Paterson, Chris McCann and Jay Rodriguez remain sidelined through injury.

The Clarets have been excellent at home this season, winning five of their eight games at Turf Moor.

Owen Coyle insists his Clarets will not try to kick Arsenal off the park in the encounter.

The Gunners have become used to rough treatment at the hands of other Lancashire clubs beginning with a 'B' - Bolton and Blackburn have in the past both been criticised by Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger for their overly-physical approach.

The lingering resentment towards ex-Blackburn manager Mark Hughes was highlighted by Wenger's refusal to shake his hand after Arsenal's Carling Cup defeat by Manchester City, but Coyle insists he is full of admiration for the Frenchman.

Coyle said: "Arsene's a top-class manager and he's someone us young managers aspire to follow in terms of teams playing football of that nature.

"He's had to build new teams because he's lost some top, top stars and he's continued to find young players and bring them through.

"If you watch our team, we look to play football. We don't have overly-physical players in our team. We like to think we are competitive but there has always been good football in games between ourselves and Arsenal and I don't see any reason why that should be any different." Arsenal will be without midfielder Denilson (back) and left-back Armand Traore (hamstring) for the trip.

Veteran Mikael Silvestre is set to come into defence, while winger Emmanuel Eboue is fit again following a hamstring problem.

Tomas Rosicky (hamstring), Nicklas Bendtner (groin), Robin van Persie (ankle) remain sidelined, along with full-back Gael Clichy (back) and Johan Djourou (knee).

Wenger hopes he will not have to read his Arsenal players the riot act at half-time against Burnley - and accepts the job of a modern-day manager is about more than just barking orders.

Much has been made of the French manager's dressing-room tirade during the interval at Liverpool, where Arsenal had trailed 1-0 following a lacklustre display.

Captain Cesc Fabregas revealed in a post-match interview Wenger had "screamed.... and said we didn't deserve to wear the Arsenal shirt if we played like that".

The psychology, however, seemed to work, as the Gunners bounced back to win 2-1 and close the gap on Barclays Premier League leaders Chelsea to six points with a match in hand.

"I have, for a long time, behaved in this job exactly as I think I have to, or that suits me, but we try to adapt to every single situation that we face," Wenger said.

Burnley vs Arsenal

Last modified 13:07 07/01/10

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It was Turf at the top for Arsene Wenger as he lost his skipper and some vital ground in the title race - but it could have been so much worse.

The Gunners boss found out what so many have at the hands of Owen Coyle's cavaliers - that this is no place for the elite to pick up easy points.

And but for a rogue linesman's offside flag costing Steven Fletcher a famous victory the Gunners chief might have been left wondering again about whether some of these players are fit to wear the shirt.

However as Wenger tries to work out when the real Arsenal will consistently stand up it has to be said that Burnley deserved so much credit for one of their vintage shows of dogged defiance.

There was Christmas charity in the chilly Lancashire air with a couple of crazy mistakes almost giving the game a flying start.

Tyrone Mears let Cesc Fabregas slip past him and only Clarke Carlisle's great interception denied Andrei Arshavin a tap-in.

But the Gunners were in generous mood themselves with Thomas Vermaelen's wayward header going over Manuel Almunia until he tipped it onto the bar.

Almunia's discomfort got worse when he caught Steven Fletcher's knee on his head as he slid out to clear another opening and then spilled a Chris Eagles cross.

Arsenal were far from steady at the back but Burnley did worse in a stupid mix-up when Andre Bikey and Carlisle failed to clear and let Fabregas virtually walk the ball into the net.

Bikey tried to dribble his way out of trouble and Carlisle simply missed the ball in a horror moment that handed all of the initiative to the Gunners.

The early goal was a nightmare for the Clarets who suddenly became exposed to the deep runs and pace of Arsenal's midfield.

Burnley needed a quick reply and top scorer Fletcher should have provided it but he put a free header over the bar when he ought to have scored.

Arshavin gave a swift reminder of Arsenal's threat when he hit the base of the post after a blistering breakaway. There are times when Burnley look short of legs at the back and this was one of them.

But Coyle's side were bold enough to pose problems going forward and Fletcher could have been in twice only to be caught offside with chances waiting.

Burnley may have been slipping towards the drop zone in recent weeks but they show no sign of giving up on their attacking ideals.

And Bikey redeemed himself at the end of a flowing move when he was chopped down by Vermaelen. Skipper Graham Alexander blasted home the spot kick with the clinical style that has served him well down the years.

Burnley went for it again but left the back door open once more and Brian Jensen had to stand strong to stop Arshavin in full cry.

But the Lancashire men were making more chances and sensed one of their famous upsets. Their passing and movement was Arsenal-like at times, while they harried and chased.

Kevin McDonald, their Carling Cup conqueror a year ago, was exceptional in midfield while Chris Eagles is growing up fast and the admirable Mears did the work of two men.

Wenger was getting agitated on the touchline although it was more with the erratic defending of his side rather than any rough stuff.

Fabregas limped off before half-time after trying to shake off an injury he picked up fouling Bikey early on. His loss was the last thing Arsenal needed as they hung on.

But in a gutsy response Vermaelen made Jensen pull off a flying save from a header as Arsenal dug in without their man.

Fabregas's exit gave sub Aaron Ramsey a chance to stake his claim and he had plenty of space as the game was so wide open.

But the Spaniard's leadership and menace were missed although Abou Diaby did come up with an improved second half showing.

However the psychological loss was big and Burnley went close to a second when Bikey took a weak clearance from Vermaelen but could not beat Almunia.

Arsenal tried to impose their possession play on a passionate match but Burnley won so many 50-50s that they kept them subdued while stirring up their own fans.

When the Gunners did a glimpse of goal the chances fell to out-of-touch Theo Walcott. Some of his finishing was woeful - he will only get to South Africa next summer if he books a safari on this form.

Eagles eclipsed him with his display, waltzing into the box and smashing the post at the end of a fabulous solo effort.

Fletcher was cruelly denied a goal when he slid in McDonald's cross-shot and was ruled offside. TV replays showed he timed his run perfectly and it was a bad call from the linesman.

Arshavin was also left hobbling by a Wade Elliott tackle that had the Arsenal bench complaining - but this time with justification.

Sub Eduardo had a couple of half-chances to grab the glory