It's back to the grind of the cup...

Do you know when Burnley last did the double over Arsenal in a season?

Because I don’t; it may have been in our pomp in the sixties or for all I know it may never have happened.

I realise it may not be wise to start an article with a statistic so thoroughly un-researched but I’m no statto. I have far better things to do than masturbating over past encounters of who beat who, when and where.

The internet’s for other things.

This season it could happen though and that’s why tomorrow’s game at the Emirates is so tantalising to every Clarets fan out there.

We’ve enjoyed the ecstasy and its pitying come downs from cup competitions already this season.

The joys of seeing off Fulham, Chelsea and the Gunners still loom large, while who can ever stop thinking about the epic semi final against Tottenham.

The pain of that defeat still hurt at the League Cup’s climax last weekend. If we’d have got there we would have never of been beaten by an Ipod.

Tomorrow will see a convoy of Claret set off before sunrise to the city of dreams, crime, cockneys and Ashley Cole.

Of course this game is a round behind the rest of the teams left in the FA Cup due to the snow that forced Arsenal to call off their game against Cardiff a month ago due to supporter safety.

Fancy a stadium like the Emirates not having under concourse heating? The amateurs.

Arsene Wenger will field a stronger side than the one that appeared at the Turf just over four months ago. The likes of Walcott, Eduardo, Arshavin, Gallas and Van Persie could all be restored to the red and white line-up.

Burnley are shaky in defence with Michael Duff suspended and Rhys Williams ineligible.

But the good news is that Clark Carlise looked more like his old self when he returned to the side against Blackpool midweek, while top scorer Martin Paterson and cup hero Brian Jensen should shake off knocks to take to the field.

Burnley have only lost two of their last eight league and cup meetings with Arsenal and in Owen Coyle we have a man that guided St Johnstone to the semi-finals of both of Scotland's major cup competitions in 2007-08.

Who said I wasn’t a statto?

With Coyle and the rest of the backroom staff pumping the lads up into the same euphoric spirit that dumped Arsene Wenger’s young scallywags out of the Carling Cup in December we can still “dare to dream.”

Those three words seem to have become the mantra of the season so far.

The dream would of course be to win at Wembley in May via the Playoffs and reach the Premiership promise land.

But while we wait for the climax of that, these days out continue to be a welcome distraction.

Of course, our recent form may suggest our cup jaunts have taken its toll at Championship level. But with the form of every team in that division being as wayward as Mr Cheryl Cole after a couple of cocktails we still have a chance.

It means we’re able to forget our playoff push for just one day and go to the Emirates full of hope and spirit for another great day out which could transform into another Claret and Blue coloured upset.