BURNLEY’S press conference on Thursday started with local magician Jason Rea showing Clarets boss Sean Dyche a card trick. And the Turf chief will be hoping the magic rubs off on his side as they prepare to face Arsenal in the Premier League.

The Clarets have not beaten the Gunners in a league game since 1974 - a run of 11 games - but have been unfortunate to lose three of their last four matches to Arsenal in the final minute.

And Dyche will hope to see lady luck smile on his side when they face Unai Emery’s men in the early kick off (12.30pm).

“We’ve had some interesting times,” said Dyche whose side saw draws turn into defeats courtesy of two last minute penalties and a late Laurent Koscielny goal that replays showed was offside. “I don’t think you can rely on lady luck, though you always hope something comes your way.”

Indeed, the Clarets haven’t beaten a top six side since winning 2-0 at home to Liverpool in September 2016 but their spirited display in another late defeat - this time at Tottenham last time out - shows Dyche’s men can compete with the league’s leading lights.

Burnley switched to a back three for the trip to Wembley with relative success and the tactic could well be employed again by Dyche at the Emirates, who revealed his side and staff had worked extensively on the switch.

“People pre-suppose that you roll something out there,” he said. “With Michael Duff before he went down to Cheltenham, he didn’t realise the depth of information.

“I think with the change of formation, it’s timing, when you think it’s appropriate, it’s a focus for the players.

“It’s something we’ve thought for a long time.

“We looked at it last season but we were going well and didn’t want to do it as a gimmick.

“We made it difficult for Tottenham but you’ve got to be productive as well.”

The set-up meant that the Clarets had just 30 per cent possession against Spurs but asked if he saw the move as negative tactics Dyche countered: “It’s reality tactics.

“If you think everyone going to play the beautiful game, there’s only one winner and that’s Man City.

“We’ve got to find a way of being successful. We’ve had to play good stuff, productive stuff, hard stuff.

“When you play these big clubs it’s difficult. If you go pound for pound, it’s difficult. You’ve got to find a way.”

Burnley’s last match against Arsenal was Arsene Wenger’s farewell at the end of last season and they travel to the capital to take on a side who have lost their last two games.

“I think there’ll be some differences in the team,” said Dyche of facing Emery’s men.

“I think the principles are similar, the manager wants to play from the back.

“The football Arsenal played in Wenger’s later years was significantly different to his early years.

“I think the manager (Emery) is doing his version of that.”