DEFENDER Gael Clichy is relishing the prospect of locking horns with Liverpool in three matches that could well determine the destiny of Arsenal's campaign.

The 22-year-old has been a key figure in helping keep the Gunners hopes alive of achieving a league and cup double.

Arsene Wenger's men still sit joint-top of the Premier League and face Liverpool over two legs in the quater-finals of the Champions League.

Those two matches are sandwiched between domestic fixture at the Emirates Stadium against the Anfield club, which are likely to play a deciding factor in how the north Londoners season will pan out.

And former Cannes defender Clichy is relishing the prospect of facing Liverpool in quick succession, just as they did in both domestic cup competitions last season.

"I don't think that affects the players at all," Clichy told the club's official website.

"We did it last season when we played the FA Cup and Carling Cup together. In fact it's quite good fun because it doesn't happen much.

"We will look forward to it and hopefully we will come out as the winner."

He added: "I watched the draw at the training ground with all the guys and I was a bit disappointed because the Champions League is for playing against teams around Europe.

"An Italian team or Spanish team would have been fantastic, but Liverpool is not bad, they are a great side and it will be a great challenge.

"At this stage of the competition it doesn't matter who you play against because all the teams have great quality.

"We know Liverpool, they know us, it will be like a Premier League game and we'll see what happens."