It feels like 2008 all over again... Wenger fighting to stop another Arsenal slide into freefall, but will the February curse return?

After falling down in Liverpool, Arsene Wenger must stop his team from falling apart against Manchester United.

It may not seem the daunting task it has been in the past, but the mind can play tricks on Arsenal as they flirt with another February collapse.

+10

On a slump? Raheem Sterling celebrates as Liverpool romp to a 5-1 victory over Arsenal

+10

February blues: Wenger's side have always struggled in February, and have a tough month to endure again

Ever since a dreadful day in Birmingham in February 2008, when Croatian forward Eduardo broke his leg and another title chase began to fizzle out, Wenger’s better campaigns have often unravelled at astonishing speed at about this time of year.

As the Champions League stirs from hibernation and the FA Cup reaches its vital stages, Arsenal fret about burn-out, rest players, muddle priorities and another empty season eclipses hope and ambition.

After Saturday’s 5-1 thrashing at Liverpool, the same fears will haunt the Emirates on Wednesday night regardless of the fact United’s problems are far more serious.

+10

Turning point: Eduardo broke his leg in the draw with Birmingham, and Arsenal's season went downhill

+10

Tough day at the office: Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny shipped five goals at Anfield

Wenger flew into a rage during the half-time interval at Anfield when his team came in 4-0 down, but was more composed at the final whistle. His message to his  players was simple: ‘You owe the club and the fans a reaction.’

The manager is expected to make a couple of changes with the axe likely to fall on Nacho Monreal, while he must make a big decision about Mesut Ozil.

Ozil was criticised for his contribution at Anfield and, according to the Arsenal medical team, he is close to the ‘red zone’ — when fatigue creeps in and players are more exposed to injury.

The £42million signing from Real Madrid has not settled comfortably into life in London and despite an encouraging start has not been satisfied with his own recent form.

+10

No silverware: Birmingham also struck again against Arsenal in the 2011 Carling Cup final, also in February

Olivier Giroud is another who has been advised to reduce his training schedule to compensate for having missed only two of 33 games in the Barclays Premier League and Champions League.

No outfield players have started more games than Giroud in the two big competitions — Wayne Rooney has started 24 and Robin van Persie only 16. For many, this underlines the folly of Arsenal’s failure to recruit another striker in January.

Centre halves Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny have also played almost every game and, with goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny ever-present in the league and Champions League, this  regular line-up has helped lift Arsenal to within a point of the Premier League leaders.

OH NO, IT'S FEBRUARY AGAIN!

When Arsenal were hammered 5-1 by Liverpool on Saturday, their fans could be forgiven for thinking: ‘Oh no, not again.’

February 2008 
Birmingham’s Martin Taylor lunged at Eduardo and broke the striker’s leg. Arsenal, top of the table, went on to draw their next three league matches and lose 4-0 to Manchester United in the FA Cup. They eventually finished third.

February 2011 
Birmingham did it again. Arsenal looked a shoo-in for their first silverware since 2005 in the Carling Cup final but Laurent Koscielny’s error allowed Obafemi Martins to score a late winner. In the league, a 4-0 lead at Newcastle was somehow thrown away.

February 2012 
Arsenal’s hopes of reaching the Champions League quarter-finals were left in tatters after a 4-0 demolition by AC Milan. Sunderland knocked the Gunners out of the FA Cup.

February 2013 
Blackburn stunned Arsenal in an FA Cup fifth-round tie Arsene Wenger’s side had dominated. Colin Kazim-Richards struck to end their Wembley dream. Arsenal were also hammered 3-1 at home by Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

SAM CUNNINGHAM

+10

Shock: Blackburn sent Arsenal crashing out of the FA Cup in February last year with a 1-0 win

Yet big decisions loom. Three days after United comes an FA Cup rematch with Liverpool, followed by a Champions League first leg against Bayern Munich. Next month includes the return in Munich and away games at Tottenham, Chelsea and Everton as well as Manchester City at home.

If Wenger does rest Ozil he can turn to other creative players.  Losing Giroud, Mertesacker or Koscielny takes more from the team. There is then the psychological risk of weakening the side and inviting defeat. Every point is vital and the FA Cup fifth-round tie against Liverpool has added significance after the result at Anfield. Resting players in the Cup has backfired in the past.

Dropping two points at Birmingham is usually cited as the start of the infamous 2008 collapse, but problems were set earlier when Wenger sent out a young team in the FA Cup at Manchester United to keep key players fresh for a Champions League game against AC Milan.

+10

Gutted: The turning point of the season came at Birmingham, with a 2-2 draw after eight wins in 10

+10

Down and out: Didier Drogba of Chelsea celebrates as Arsenal's title challenge hit a wall in 2008

Arsenal lost 4-0 at Old Trafford and drew with Milan before they conceded the last-minute equaliser from a penalty at St Andrew’s, lost impetus and finished third, four points behind champions United. Wenger has not finished within 10 points of the title since, and has not won a trophy since 2005. 

Last year’s hopes vanished with two defeats in four days at home to Blackburn and Bayern.

It was an echo of the previous season, when a 4-0 thrashing in Milan preceded an FA Cup exit at Sunderland. In 2011, a Wembley defeat by Birmingham in the Carling Cup final sparked a run of one win in seven games but this campaign has felt different. 

+10

Down and out: Jack Wilshere (centre) looks at the ground in disbelief during Arsenal's defeat

+10

Gone missing: Mesut Ozil has come under scrutiny from Arsenal fans for his recent performances

There have been signs of more resolve. Different individuals have stepped forward. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain rescued them against Crystal Palace, Santi Cazorla against Fulham and Nicklas Bendtner against Cardiff.

The defeat at Liverpool was chastening. Mikel Arteta called it ‘a car crash’ and Mertesacker ‘one of the worst setbacks of this season’. Pride was damaged but it came after a run of eight wins and a draw — itself an impressive reaction to four games without a win in December.

This team has more character and more quality than recent Arsenal models but this is the big test. They must prove it. Can they react? Or will they embrace the usual excuses and tumble into another February freefall.