Arsene Wenger on Arsenal's nightmare fixture run next month: 'Keep the squad together and win the next game - that's our policy'
Liverpool, Manchester United and Bayern Munich will be played in quick succession
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Your support makes all the difference.Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has challenged his team to keep focused during their nightmare run of matches inside 12 days next month, in which they will face Liverpool twice, Manchester United and Bayern Munich, following Sunday's FA Cup fifth round draw.
The Gunners were given a home draw with Liverpool for the last 16 of the competition after they defeated Coventry City 4-0 at the Emirates Stadium on Friday night.
The FA Cup tie will be placed in the middle of the run, which starts at Anfield in the league on 8 February.
"It's an interesting [FA Cup] draw and a difficult one," Wenger told arsenal.com. "We have a little advantage by playing at home. That means we don't travel but overall it is of course difficult and we'll try again to absorb it and to come ouergt in a positive way.
"We have plenty of big games, that means the whole squad will need to be highly focused. To deal with that is a massive challenge for the squad but I'm confident we can do that."
Wenger added: "What is important is that you don't lose players from now until this period, that you have all the players available. That is very important but you can never be sure about that.
"For the rest you just go game by game, focus on the next one and if you win the next one you have more chances to win the one after. So the two together - keep your squad available and win the next game - that's our policy."
Arsenal’s nightmare fixture run:
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
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