The three issues this weekend

After the year's last international break, seven weeks of unbroken Premier League football begin this weekend stretching through December and up to the FA Cup third round in early January.

Pep Guardiola's Manchester City are eight points clear at the summit and in danger of disappearing over the horizon.

Their closest challengers, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and defending champions Chelsea, are separated by a single point.

CAN ARSENAL TURN THE NORTH LONDON TIDE?

Tottenham finished above Arsenal for the first time since 1995 last season and have not tasted defeat against their arch rivals in the league in over three years.

Mauricio Pochettino's side have continued to shine this season, notably in their recent Champions League victory over Real Madrid, and sit four points above Arsenal in the table.

But Spurs have not won at the Emirates Stadium since November 2010 and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes home advantage could give his team the edge.

"I think Tottenham are a good side, but we have the quality to win this game and that's what we want to show," he said.

WILL CHELSEA MAKE A HAPPY RETURN TO THE HAWTHORNS?

When Chelsea last played at The Hawthorns, home of West Bromwich Albion, the stadium found itself staging a title party after Michy Batshuayi's late goal made Antonio Conte's side champions.

Six months on from that game, Chelsea are one of several teams who have been left in Manchester City's wake.

However, Alvaro Morata's second-half header brought them an impressive 1-0 win over Manchester United on their most recent outing and they are now just a point off second place.

CAN UNITED GET BACK IN THE GROOVE?

Neck-and-neck with City at the end of September, Manchester United have fallen off the pace after a 0-0 draw at Liverpool and successive away defeats against Huddersfield Town and Chelsea.

But their injury situation appears to be improving, with reports Paul Pogba and long-term absentee Zlatan Ibrahimovic could be on the bench for Saturday's game against Newcastle, which would give Jose Mourinho's side a major lift.

"I'm determined to return better and stronger than before," Ibrahimovic said in a promotional interview with Volvo.

"That is my goal and it will happen. There are no other options."