Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has bizarrely likened Sunday’s Premier League opponents Burnley to a killer snake after he gave a vivid description of Sean Dyche’s side.

The long-serving Frenchman takes his sixth placed side up to Turf Moor in a bid for the three points required to build on their excellent 2-0 win in the North London derby, and to leapfrog Spurs into fourth place.

However, Wenger is wary of the Lancastrians and their ‘killing instinct’ and wants to avoid losing two in two after his second string’s disappointing 1-0 loss in Cologne in the Europa League on Thursday night.

Speaking to Arsenal.com Wenger cautioned: “They are the surprise package. They have won games with 25 per cent or 30 per cent possession.

“That means they are calm, they know what to do and they are patient with that killing instinct of a snake.

“They put you to their face and then they bite you.”

The Clarets sit in seventh place fired by six league wins already this term, knowing a win would lift them over the North Londoners.

Yet the Gunners boss isn’t surprised by their league position, hailing Dyche and his side as a tough proposition.

He added; “If before the season if you asked 100 people if Burnley would have 22 points at this stage, 90 would have said no – and the 10 others would have been Burnley supporters.

“So overall they have done extremely well.

“They benefit as well from the fact that Sean Dyche has done an outstanding job but also from the stability in their team.

“They know each other for years now and that is why they are a difficult proposal for anyone now.”

Despite Burnley failing to win a league match against Arsenal since 1974 – a run of nine games without a win including all six Premier League fixtures the sides have played – the Clarets have won three consecutive top-flight games for the first time since 1975.

If they were to clinch a fourth it would be their best run in the top tier since October and November 1968, when they claimed six victories in a row.

Wenger added: “Turf Moor is a very difficult place to go for everybody.

“I believe their capacity to be efficient with a restricted possession as well [is a big strength].