FA Cup fifth round draw: Arsenal clash with Liverpool adds to nightmare 12-day run for Arsene Wenger next month

The Gunners now face Brendan Rodgers' side twice in twelve days, as well as Bayern Munich and Manchester United

Arsene Wenger will be exasperated by Arsenal's upcoming run of fixtures

Arsenal have been handed a nightmare run of fixtures after they were given a testing FA Cup fifth round assignment against Liverpool – right in the middle of an already daunting run of matches.

The Gunners were already due to face Liverpool in the Premier League on 8 February, but now they face a second encounter with Brendan Rodgers’ side the following weekend – either side of a tricky midweek clash with Manchester United. To top off their twelve days of torment, Arsene Wenger’s side host European champions Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday 19 February.

After nine years without a trophy, Arsenal are now competing on three fronts, and this imposing sequence could well define their fortunes in their quest for some long-awaited silverware.

But Arsenal can’t afford to relax after their furious fortnight, as just a month later, they face an arguably even tougher streak – a five-match run that begins with the return leg against Bayern, before Premier League encounters with Tottenham, Chelsea, Manchester City and Everton.

Arsenal’s nightmare fixture list:

8 February: Liverpool (away), Premier League

12 February: Manchester United (home), Premier League

15-16 February: Liverpool (home), FA Cup

19 February: Bayern Munich (home), Champions League

22 February: Sunderland (home), Premier League

1 March: Stoke City (away), Premier League

8 March: Swansea City (home), Premier League

11 March: Bayern Munich (away), Champions League

15 March: Tottenham Hotspur (away), Premier League

22 March: Chelsea (away), Premier League

29 March: Manchester City (home), Premier League

5 April: Everton (away), Premier League