Ray Parlour: Arsene Wenger's Anfield rant wasn't first time he has laid into his players

The 60-year-old's castigation of his side midway through Sunday's clash at Liverpool has been interpreted as anything from frustration to signs he is wavering under the pressure of a season he has billed as Arsenal's coming of age.

But Ray Parlour has seen it all before, albeit in vastly differing circumstances. The former Gunners midfielder spent nearly eight years under Wenger's tutelage and although he remembers a manager whose serene influence nearly always remained unaffected regardless of results, there was an occasion where Wenger's ire was vented in spectacular fashion.

On the 25th February 2001, Arsenal visited a rampant Manchester United, who were on course for their third successive Premier League title, with a makeshift back four that comprised Oleg Luzhny, Gilles Grimandi, Igor Stepanovs and a promising but inexperienced left-back named Ashley Cole.

The Gunners found themselves 5-1 down at half-time, prompting the Frenchman's fury.

"At half-time, usually he is really calm, just talks to you sensibly and just tells you to keep going," said Parlour.

"But there was one time when he went mad. We were 5-1 down at half-time at Old Trafford, the game had gone and he lost it. Our back four was not very good that day and he was furious. I thought it was funny, to be honest.

"I had never heard him swear and there were a few lads in the dressing room in shock that day. Arsene is so calm but it is not a bad thing to lose your rag once in a while."

While Wenger got something by way of a response with a comparatively respectable 6-1 final score, Sunday's dramatic reversal of fortune produced a more valuable outcome, resulting in a 2-1 victory. With a tricky looking trip tonight to Burnley, Parlour is warning of the pitfalls of resting on their laurels after their Anfield heroics.

"Arsene has got belief in the squad and knows they can compete but Burnley away is the type of game where you have to grind out a result," added the 36-year-old.

Ray Parlour was speaking on behalf of Barclays Ticket Office, which is giving fans the chance to win a pair of free Barclays Premier League tickets every 90 minutes. visit www.barclaysticketoffice.com