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As we made our way back to the underground station after that cup game I said to an Arsenal fan: "We'll see you next year in the Premier League," hardly believing it myself.
But we did make it and now face this toughest of league games, probably the toughest yet against an Arsenal side who are looking to go top.
Let's look at the facts - Arsenal, just two home defeats against the top two and with as many home goals in the league as anyone but that top two. Burnley, the worst away record with the most goals conceded. At least we can claim to have scored more goals on the road than any of Blackburn, Hull and Portsmouth although only three of our ten have counted for anything.
Every away game I've wondered if this would be the one where we got our first win, every time I've come home disappointed. I've been to other games with a lot more confidence than this one, but who knows?
It's been another one of those weeks for Arsenal when manage Arsène Wenger has been bemoaning their luck regarding injuries in the wake of the incident at Stoke last weekend that saw Aaron Ramsey stretchered off with a broken fibula and tibia.
He's been playing the 'hard done to' card again and incredibly has claimed that no club in Europe suffers more serious injuries than Arsenal. They've had three this season with Robin van Persie, Kieran Gibbs and now Ramsey all requiring surgery.
"We're the only club in Europe who have had three players requiring surgery," he said, presumably totally unaware of the injuries to Chris McCann, Martin Paterson and Jay Rodriguez.
Sometimes I don't know what to make of the Arsenal manager. I watch his side play with such style and I just sit back and enjoy it as much as any football I'm likely to see, then I have to suffer his whinging at every little thing that goes against his side whilst hearing him tell everyone he's not seen any wrong doing by his own players.
There's no doubt at all he's more than happy to heap praise on the opposition if his side win (as he did in January 2008 when they beat us in the FA Cup) but he'll struggle to have a good word for you if you dare to go and beat them (Carling Cup December 2008).
Arsène - keep playing the football the way you do. I love it and, after today's game I'd be delighted if you went on to win the Premier League. But please show some humility from time to time.
They are currently in third place in what is very much a three horse race for the title. Third is the lowest they will finish this season and that will be at least one place higher than the fourth place they ended last season. Incredibly fourth is the lowest Arsenal have ended a season since Wenger became manager in 1996.
Former Notts County star Sol Campbell is out of today's game. He's suffered a groin injury at Stoke although he could be fit for their midweek Champions League game. With William Gallas also out Mikael Silvestre is expected to partner Thomas Vermaelen in the centre of defence.
On the positive side Abou Diaby returns to the squad after suffering knee ligament damage last month. Also back are Andrey Arshavin and Denilson but Alex Song starts a two match ban.
Their team last week at Stoke was: Manuel Almunia, Bacary Sagna, Thomas Vermaelen, Sol Campbell, Gael Clichy, Emmanuel Eboue, Samir Nasri, Aaron Ramsey, Alex Song, Cesc Fabregas, Nicklas Bendtner. Subs: Lukasz Fabianski, Mikael Silvestre, Armand Traore, Theo Walcott, Tomas Rosicky, Carlos Vela, Eduardo.
Brian Laws was hoping to give Chris McCann a run out in the reserves this week ahead of today's game but after taking advice from the medical team the Irish midfielder wasn't quite ready and so the wait goes on for his return.
The good news though is that Graham Alexander got an hour on Monday and having suffered no reaction he returns to the squad and given the comments from the manager this week looks a certain starter.
Also back in the squad is David Nugent. The loan striker was unavailable last week against his parent club and he might have to wait for a return given the performance of Martin Paterson who came in for him.
We could line up today: Brian Jensen, Tyrone Mears, Clarke Carlisle, Leon Cort, Danny Fox, Jack Cork, Graham Alexander, Kevin McDonald, Martin Paterson, Steven Fletcher, Chris Eagles. Subs from: Nicky Weaver, Michael Duff, David Edgar, Stephen Jordan, Wade Elliott, Joey Gudjonsson, Robbie Blake, Andre Bikey, Steven Thompson, Frédéric Nimani.
A cup tie last year but this will be our first ever league visit to the Emirates and we have to go back to December 1975 for our last league game at Arsenal, played at Highbury.
It was a game between two strugglers with us in the two positions just above the drop zone. Arsenal had one point more than us and that became three as they won 1-0 with a goal two minutes from time, the first of two successive games Burnley lost by that scoreline with 88th minute goals.
The game was played on the Saturday before Christmas and with Birmingham winning it meant we went into Christmas in the bottom three along with Wolves and Sheffield United, the three teams who went on to be relegated at the end of the season.
The Burnley team was: Gerry Peyton, Mick Docherty, Keith Newton, Billy Ingham, Colin Waldron, Jim Thomson, Mike Summerbee, Kevin Kennerley, Ray Hankin, Brian Flynn, Paul Bradshaw.
Previous 20 Seasons | |||||
Season | Div | Ven | Result | Att | Scorers |
2007/08 | FA | h | 0-2 | 16,709 | . |
2008/09 | LC | h | 2-0 | 19,045 | McDonald(2) |
| . | FA | a | 0-3 | 57,454 | . |
2009/10 | PL | h | 1-1 | 21,309 | Alexander(pen) |