Michael Keane ready to cause FA Cup upset at the Emirates

Michael Keane believes in-form Burnley are more than capable of causing an Emirates FA Cup shock against holders Arsenal.

The Clarets head to the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, having won six of their last eight games and scoring 22 goals in the process.

And the former England Under-21s defender is looking forward to testing himself against Arsene Wenger’s side, who are chasing a third successive FA Cup title.

"We head there confident and I’m sure we’ll give a good account of ourselves," Keane told TheFA.com ahead of their trip to the capital.

"I don’t think they’ll be looking forward to playing against us and they’ll expect a tough game, which I’m sure it will be for them.

"It’s going to be a step up from what we’ve been used to this year, but the lads have shown previously that they’re capable of doing it.

"It’s going to be tough and we’re going to have to work well to stop them from scoring.

"They’ve got top quality players all over the pitch so we hope they will have a bit of an off-day and that we’ll be on top of our game.

"But with the goals we have in our team and our fitness levels, we can cause them problems in different ways through something they’re not used to playing against in the Premier League.

"Stranger things have happened, we were in the Premier League last year so we know what it’s like playing against teams like Arsenal.

"Everyone’s looking forward to the game and hopefully causing an upset."

Saturday’s tie will also see the 23-year-old play at the Emirates Stadium for the first time since a one-off friendly game there during his days as a Manchester United youngster.

Keane, along with his twin brother Will, was part of the United side who won The FA Youth Cup in 2011 alongside the likes of Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard, Sam Johnstone and Ravel Morrison.

And some of that group were in a United academy team who played a behind-closed-doors game against the Gunners in the venue’s early years.

"I played there against them in what must have been the Under-12s team in a friendly," revealed Keane.

Michael Keane was part of the England Under-21s squad who reached the Euro Finals last summer

"We did it for a few years in a row with United, we’d go down for a game just to get the experience of playing in a stadium and we did it with the U16s too, I think we drew 2-2 and that’s the only time I’ve played there.

"It’s an unbelievable stadium and the pitch was always perfect. It’s a great place to play, they have a lot of history with good fans and great players."

Stockport-born Keane made the short move from Old Trafford to Turf Moor at the start of last season, having previously spent loan spells with the likes of Leicester City, Derby County and Blackburn Rovers.

And having undergone his footballing education as a teenager at United, where he was mentored by Rio Ferdinand, Keane now believes he’s flourishing under the guidance of Sean Dyche.

"At first, when I left United, you question whether it was the right thing to do," he revealed.

"If I hadn’t have left, maybe I would have got more games for United but in the long run it’s been better for me to have left.

"I’ve improved since I’ve been here, just playing week in and week out and the gaffer, players and staff here have helped me massively.

"I think I’ve definitely improved and hopefully I can keep going. I know I’ve got a lot more to learn and I’m still young for a centre-half but I’m happy with how I’ve been playing.

"Because he [Dyche] was a defender himself, he particularly focuses on the defence, which is a good thing because it helps me.

"On the training pitch, he’s been working on certain things with me and where I should be on the pitch during the game, which are things that I wouldn’t have got at a club like United.

"So it’s been a great move for me coming to Burnley, I hope it can continue and I keep improving and doing well for the team."