Burnley’s interim boss Mike Jackson believes it’s wrong his side have already been written off ahead of Monday’s clash against Arsenal.
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Mike Jackson officially rules himself out of contention for Burnley job](https://www.burnleyexpress.net/sport/football/mike-jackson-officially-rules-himself-out-of-contention-for-burnley-job-8545153 "Mike Jackson officially rules himself out of contention for Burnley job")
While the Gunners can’t mathematically win the Premier League title against the Clarets, a win will put Mikel Arteta’s side on the verge of glory.
Leading Manchester City by two points with only two games to play, many observers have already assumed Arsenal will pick up the win against Burnley – leaving a final day showdown against Crystal Palace.
But despite Burnley already being relegated, Jackson insists his side shouldn’t be discounted.
“I think everyone, I think you guys have already written the press for the next day,” he said.
“For me, it's like the outcome is already decided in everyone else's eyes. But I think for us, we've got to go there with some belief and have a go.”
He added: “You look at a game like this and you look at the importance it is to everyone in the competition, we know what we're talking about.
Mike Jackson takes his Burnley side to the Emirates on Monday night (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)placeholder image
Mike Jackson takes his Burnley side to the Emirates on Monday night (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
“But I think from our point of view, I think you've got to look at it as an opportunity as well to 1) be involved in a game like this and 2) be really excited about it.
“It's a platform to then go and perform. We can't influence everything that's going on around it and all the noise about these games coming up. But what we can do is make sure, like we did against Villa last week, we proved last week that we were still taking the competition really seriously and that's what we'll do.”
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After taking over on a caretaker basis until the end of the season, following Scott Parker’s departure, Jackson vowed it was Burnley’s responsibility to take their remaining games seriously, given there’s still so much on the line for a number of other clubs.
“I wouldn't want to be in their position,” he added. “Well I would, but in another way, knowing that the other team is just going to down tools, I wouldn't want that.
“I hope they don't think that's where we're at. I hope that there were signs in the performance last week that showed that, so that's what we've got to continue with now.”
Despite already being relegated after a miserable campaign in the top flight, the Clarets have actually performed pretty well against the top sides this season.
They drew against Liverpool at Anfield, having been beaten by a last-minute penalty in the home fixture, while they also pushed Manchester United close both home and away.
Even recently, Manchester City were only able to win 1-0 at Turf Moor, despite it just being assumed Pep Guardiola’s side would boost their goal difference with a big win.
“I think if you look at all the so-called big games this season, I think we've been there in those games,” Jackson said.
“But in the other games where you'd think it'd be a little bit more, we haven't been as much. That probably comes from maybe the type of game it is and the players realising that. But it can be a few factors. But I think that's a big thing.”
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