Burnley manager, Scott Parker, has expressed his admiration for Arsenal, describing Mikel Arteta’s men as a “well-coached team” every time he watches them play.
Parker and his side will be looking to halt Arsenal’s fine form when they face the Gunners in Saturday’s Premier League encounter at Turf Moor.
Both clubs head into the fixture buoyed by recent victories, Burnley edged Wolves 3-2, while Arsenal recorded a 2-0 win over Brighton in the Carabao Cup.
Despite Arsenal’s strong start to the campaign, some critics have branded them “set-piece merchants,” a tag Parker believes is unfair.
Speaking ahead of the clash, the Burnley boss said he doesn’t understand the criticism surrounding Arsenal’s reliance on set-pieces.
“When I’m watching Arsenal, to be honest with you, I see a fluid team really,” Parker told Arsenal News Channel. “I see an unbelievably well-coached team, a team that solves situations.
“Of course there’s a large element, not a large element, one of many elements. I would say this is definitely not a team that just relies on set-plays.
“Now, obviously, at the start of this season there’s been key moments where they’ve got wins from set-plays. This is a well-oiled team and a functional team that are very fluid in the way they play, really. Defensively, like you say, is really a foundation.
“It was probably something we lived by last year, really. It gives you a bedrock and they’ve certainly formed that. But, yeah, for me, like I said, this is a top, top team and a well-coached team.”
