Welbeck ready to show United what they're missing

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 just 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 STG16 million ($A29 million) transfer.

The Manchester-born striker, 23, came through the youth ranks at Old Trafford and his departure prompted former assistant coach Mike Phelan to declare that United's identity had been "broken".

Welbeck was withdrawn as a precaution during England's 3-1 friendly win over Scotland in Glasgow on Tuesday after complaining of tightness in his hamstring, but he is expected to face United.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has also been boosted by the news 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.

But 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.

"Di Maria has trained today normally, so I don't think that is a question mark, but (Luke) Shaw is," United manager Louis van Gaal revealed on Thursday.

"De Gea is good, no problem. I think I have to wait for the reaction in training with Carrick, but I also expect he's ready to play."

The season may be only 11 games old, but complacency and rank misfortune already seem the only factors capable of preventing Chelsea from romping to a first league title since 2010.

A 2-1 win at Liverpool enabled Jose Mourinho's side to open an eight-point lead over reigning champions Manchester City prior to the international window, and Arsenal, United and Liverpool are even further back.

Chelsea host West Bromwich Albion on Saturday and will hope to see top scorer Diego Costa firing on all cylinders after he was left out of the Spain squad to rest his troublesome hamstrings.

Manuel Pellegrini, however, remains confident City can challenge for the title.

Pellegrini's team have made a stuttering start to the defence of their league crown and play host to Swansea City on Saturday, having won only one of their last six matches in all competitions prior to the break for international fixtures.

City's form in the Champions League has also been poor and they are on the brink of elimination after failing to win any of their opening four fixtures.

However, Pellegrini, is still upbeat about his team's prospects on both the domestic and European front.

"Now is not the moment to analyse what has happened in the season," the City manager said Thursday.

"There are a lot of games to play in the Premier League and Champions League.

"We have 27 more games to play and there are a lot of points to be contested, so we will see at the end who will be the best team this year," the Chilean added.

City are likely to be without influential playmaker David Silva for Saturday's match at the Etihad Stadium, but club captain Vincent Kompany returned to training this week following a calf injury.

Kompany, though, could be held back for City's Champions League clash at home to German giants Bayern Munich on Wednesday,

Central defender Kompany suffered a calf strain on international duty with Belgium, while Silva is recovering from a knee injury sustained against Newcastle last month.

City are set to be without Yaya Toure in January and February after the midfielder helped the Ivory Coast qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations.

That could prompt Pellegrini to renegotiate the terms of Frank Lampard's loan deal from US 'sister club' New York City FC.

Former England midfielder Lampard, 36, is due to move to the United States in January but the Major League Soccer season does not start until March, giving City hope that his loan could yet be extended.

The only team who have threatened to keep pace with Chelsea are Southampton, who trail the leaders by four points ahead of their trip to Aston Villa in the Monday night game.

Another team in desperate need of an upturn in fortunes are Liverpool, who lie in 11th place, 15 points behind Chelsea, after three games without a victory.

On Sunday Brendan Rodgers' side play Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, scene of their crushing late-season capitulation last May, when they effectively gifted City the title by letting a 3-0 lead slip to draw 3-3.

Liverpool's woes have been compounded by the news that striker Daniel Sturridge could be out until the new year after aggravating a thigh injury.

Fourth-placed West Ham travel to Everton, who are four points behind the Irons.