Arsenal striker Danny Welbeck's reunion with former club Manchester United supplies one of the sub-plots as the Premier league resumes this weekend following the international break.
Arsenal welcome United to the Emirates Stadium on Saturday evening for a match that will see both teams attempt to avoid conceding further ground to early-season pace-setters Chelsea.
Beaten 2-1 at Swansea City on their last outing, Arsenal approach the weekend in sixth place, 12 points behind leaders Chelsea and a point above United, who edged Crystal Palace 1-0 in their most recent encounter.
Welbeck has excelled at centre-forward for both Arsenal and England since leaving United on transfer deadline day in a £16 million transfer. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has also been boosted by the news that France striker Olivier Giroud is ready to return to action after making a speedy recovery from a broken leg.
United received a blow during the international break when Dutch midfielder Daley Blind sustained a knee ligament injury likely to sideline him for several weeks. Although they face ongoing injury problems in defence, goalkeeper David de Gea and midfielders Michael Carrick and Angel di Maria should all be fit to face Arsenal despite sustaining knocks on international duty.
Champions City will look to drag themselves out of a damaging rut when they host Swansea, having won only one of their last six matches in all competitions.
Another team in desperate need of an upturn in fortunes is liverpool. On Sunday Brendan Rodgers's side play Crystal Palace, scene of their crushing late-season capitulation last May. liverpool's woes have been compounded by the news that Daniel Sturridge could be out until the new year.