Arsenal have been handed a 12-day run nightmare of fixtures next month

FA Cup fifth round draw: Arsenal's clash with Liverpool adds to nightmare 12-day run next month

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 February 19.

After eight 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