Burnley 2 - 0 Arsenal

Burnley v Arsenal: Preview

Updated: December 1, 2008, 4:55 PM UK

Burnley boss Owen Coyle will check on the fitness of winger Wade Elliott ahead of the Carling Cup quarter-final at home to Arsenal.

Elliott has missed the Clarets' last two matches due to a groin strain while Christian Kalvenes and Remco van der Schaaf could again miss out after recent injuries and illness.

Striker Steve Thompson is ineligible to play after he represented Cardiff in an earlier round of the competition, so in-form Martin Paterson will again lead the attack.

Coyle knows his side will have to be at their best to beat the Gunners array of young talent which has cruised to victories over Sheffield United and Wigan so far in the competition.

But, having eliminated Chelsea last month, Coyle sees no need for his team to fear Arsenal, especially as the success at Stamford Bridge was totally deserved.

"We are being spoken about in nice terms but we are under no illusions about how difficult this will be,'' he said.

"We will have to be totally concentrated and focused.

"But we will also look to commit players forward and make a game of it. When we do have the ball I want my players to express themselves.

"We have reached where we are by playing good football and I see no reason to change.''

For a club with such a rich tradition and history, Burnley have been in the doldrums for far too long.

The success of neighbours Blackburn has only made their fans even more desperate for some of their own, ensuring Turf Moor will be packed to its 22,000-capacity for the first time in Coyle's tenure when Arsene Wenger brings his team north for the second time in a year.

On the last occasion, a full-strength Arsenal side registered a two-goal triumph in the FA Cup. Coyle is about to discover how much progress they have made.

"We are an improved team from then,'' said Coyle.

"This is a very traditional club but to even be talking about reaching the semi-finals shows how far we have come.''

Veteran defender Mikael Silvestre is expected to provide the experience for Arsenal at Turf Moor in a side that may include Wales teenager Aaron Ramsey, 16-year-old Jack Wilshere and striker Jay Simpson.

Goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski and strikers Nicklas Bendtner and Carlos Vela are set to provide some first-team experience, while summer signing Amaury Bischoff is also in contention after his return to match-fitness.

Ramsey does not turn 18 until Boxing Day, but is certainly the most established of Wenger's new generation after making his debut in the Champions League qualifier against FC Twente.

Since then, appearances in the Barclays Premier League and Carling Cup have followed, with Ramsey notching his first senior goal in the 5-2 victory away to Fenerbahce at the end of October.

Now a full international after being part of a young Wales side which won in Denmark earlier this month, Ramsey feels he can go from strength to strength as he targets a regular place in Wenger's first team.

"I am really enjoying it. It has been a big learning curve since I joined, but I already feel as if I have learned a lot here,'' Ramsey said.

"Playing alongside world-class players in training every day is a big help.

"I like to attack, I like to get forward and join the strikers when I can - I have always liked the way Steven Gerrard plays and I have tried to model myself on him and his game.

"I just want to kick on now, try and force my way into the starting XI and play week-in week-out.

"I want to make myself an established first team player for Arsenal. I am quite an ambitious person, so I have always had high expectations.''

Wenger feels the future is bright for the young Welshman.

"He is a player who has personality and a fantastic engine,'' the Arsenal manager said.

"He is always available and does not hide. He has good vision and I believe he will be a very big player in the future.''