As early Chrismas presents go...

...that was a bloody good one. What another fantastic night of football at Turf Moor. Last nights one all draw with Arsenal was a thoroughly enjoyable encounter, one that's still got me smiling like that rather wet Geordie kid that won the X Factor.

For those gooners who dismissed Burnley before this game, next time you come to Turf Moor be prepared for another long ninety minutes. Owen Coyle's men did what the gaffer promised and went toe to toe with the Gunners for pretty much the whole ninety minutes in what was a superb display of counter attacking football.


We know how good Arsenal are and how well they move the ball so for the most part had to make sure that when we had our share of possession we kept the ball and made the most of it. Although things didn’t get off to the best of starts as within the first sixty seconds we almost gifted them a goal. Then minutes later, in between Arsenal almost putting the ball into their own net, we did just that, as Andre Bikey’s demand for too much time on the ball allowed Fabregas to easily dispossess him before the Spaniard neatly slotted the ball past Brain Jensen.

It was a hammer blow, a moment of utter deflation for the raucous Turf Moor crowd. But as ever Burnley showed the heart, desire and true bravery that has and will continue to get them back into many a game. Arsenal looked vulnerable at the back when under pressure, while for all their neat play around the box were lacking a true centre forward and in my opinion were wasting their creative gem Arshavin by deploying him as the lone man up front.

The visitors then could’ve had more; as Fabregas broke through and found the side netting before Arshavin saw an effort come back off the post. Then Burnley began to get it together again and just shy of the half hour mark Bikey showed his less casual side as he broke into the box only to be clattered by Vermaelen. Graham Alexander stepped up to take the penalty and as usual made no mistake by smashing the ball home to draw things level.

Fabregas’ hamstring couldn’t take much more and was withdrawn before the half ended, which finished with Vermaelen almost atoning for his error by forcing Jensen to tip over a thundering header. Despite these chances Burnley were very much in the match and were starting to compete with Arsenal in every department. In the second period, Burnley’s part grew as they began at times to completely dominate proceedings. Arsenal were left frustrated and rarely threatened the Beast’s goal despite their methodical build up play.

The Clarets pressed and almost took the lead as a mazy run and shot from the outstanding Chris Eagles came thundering back off the post. Minutes later a controversial moment saw the linesman’s offside flag raised as Steven Fletcher tapped home a Kevin McDonald cross. At the time most inside Turf Moor thought it was a goal and almost all probably still do having seen the replay from the comfort of their living room. I said before this game Burnley would have to ride their luck to gain a positive result, but in the second half the same can be said for Arsene Wenger’s men who were fortunate not to be trailing.

Before that Wenger had taken off the ineffective Theo Walcott who was never in the game thanks to a Stephen Jordan carried the glass produced England winger in his pocket during his time on the pitch. Even when Arshavin moved over to the right hand side the Burnley left back looked solid and assured.

As the game drew to a close, things became stretched and end to end but neither side could clinch a winner. Burnley had taken points off yet another one of the Premier League big boys at Turf Moor, that’s now three of the current top four that have failed to secure a single victory here. The likes of McDonald, Eagles, Jordan, Fletcher and Alexander were in truly inspiring form and looked like they’d been playing at this level for years.

After the game both managers were asked about our next opponents Wolves’ decision to make ten changes to the side that beat Tottenham against Manchester United. Wenger spoke about having to match Manchester United over 37 games and not 38 while Coyle rather diplomatically played down Mick McCarthy’s decision.

In my view McCarthy not only short changed the fans who travelled to Old Trafford but the players who fought so hard last season to pit themselves against English football’s elite clubs. Although it’s incredibly flattering to have a manager resting his entire team so they are fresh to face Burnley it’s a tactic I’m not a fan of. Here’s hoping to it backfiring dramatically come Sunday; and if it does I suspect there will be some grumblings not only from the vast majority of the Molyneux crowd; but also from inside the home dressing room as well.

Wolves may be holding up the white flag when it comes to the big four; but as Arsenal learnt last night that will never be the case for Owen Coyle’s Burnley. The only flag that mattered to us last night was the linesman’s wrong one which denied us the chance of another famous victory.