Friday 24 November 2017 15:47, UK
Burnley manager Sean Dyche says Sunday's clash with Arsenal will give him the chance to measure how far the Clarets have progressed over the past few months.
The Lancashire club are on an unbeaten run of 12 games in all competitions, and a victory over the Gunners at Turf Moor this weekend would move Dyche's team above Arsenal in the Premier League table.
Speaking at Friday's pre-match press conference, the Burnley boss said: "It's an opportunity to measure ourselves against one of the top clubs in this division.
"We try to move it forward, year-on-year, when it comes to staffing, and we try to make changes to improve week-by-week, regarding players.
"There's no exact measurement. Obviously, the result is one thing, but also about how are we performing against the big teams.
"You analyse how you do against the 'super-power' clubs over a season. Not just by the score, but your performance levels too.
"It's about the bigger picture and are we moving the team forward - weekly, monthly, and season to season?
"Obviously, we work on one game at a time but it's also my job to see beyond that - where we were, where we are now and how can we move it forward."
Dyche says Arsenal have not always played the style of football they do now and have evolved under Arsene Wenger in his 21 years at the club.
He added: "Look at Arsenal. When Arsene Wenger first took over at Arsenal despite - what people think now - they weren't rolling the ball out across the six-yard line, or playing 300 passes in and around the box.
"They were getting the ball forward and being successful in a different way. And over the years they have changed that to adapt to the modern needs of football.
"And we're a diluted version of that. But we do not lose sight of the core values of what we do well.
"And we are moving forward and not just defensively. We are finding a calmness to our play at times, during games, and we are still mixing play.
"Our style of play is moving forward slightly, and it does take time."
With regards to injury concerns, Dyche said: "Chris Wood's had a good week with us and definitely available for selection.
"Long-term Dean Marney is getting fitter and stronger, so is Jon Walters, and Tom Heaton's doing well. That's very long term and we know it needs to be well looked after.
"Marney and Walters won't figure this week, they need some more games. Deano's ahead of schedule while Jon's working with the physio and starting to join in with the warm-ups."
