Premier League Plotlines: Is there room in Arsenal’s Plan A for Plan B?

Our writers round up the weekend's talking points.

Can Arsene Wenger accommodate both Alexis Sanchez and Olivier Giroud in the same starting XI?

It's an issue the Arsenal manager insists he is relaxed about after the pair each scored twice in the 4-1 stroll at Sunderland.

Sanchez, joint top scorer with eight goals, appears to remain in pole position as Giroud works his way back to form and fitness after scoring his first Premier League goals since May.

With Theo Walcott also set to return after injury, Wenger is happy to have to deal with the selection 'headache'.

"It's only a headache when the forwards are not scoring," the Frenchman reflected, safe in the knowledge that Arsenal's hectic schedule of fixtures will ensure his forwards will enjoy plenty of game time while also having opportunity to rest as Wenger rotates his options.

Is Lukaku about to dominate the Premier League?

Romelu Lukaku’s one-man vendetta against West Ham continued as the Belgian international striker scored his ninth goal in as many games against the London club.

The 50th minute finish was also Lukaku’s 50th Premier League goal for Everton in just 112 appearances and the 67th of a career that started with Chelsea, where he failed to score, and moved on to loan spells with West Brom and Everton.

That tally is all the more remarkable given Lukaku’s tender years - he will not turn 24 until the end of the current season - and, having so far completed just four full campaigns in the top flight, the potential for him to go on and become a major force in English football would seem strong.

“Sometimes it’s difficult to explain why you have a row of games when you always score against a certain opponent and not others,” said Everton manager Ronald Koeman. “But he showed again today he’s a fantastic striker and a very important goalscorer for the team.”

Eden Hazard made a mockery of Alan Shearer’s claim

Alan Shearer may have claimed after Manchester City’s 4-0 demolition of West Brom that Sergio Aguero is the only world class player in the Premier League, but after Chelsea’s win at St Mary’s he surely needs to think again.

On his day, there a few who can cope with Eden Hazard and if he keeps performing like this he, and Chelsea, will take some stopping.

After a miserable season last year, the Belgian looks rejuvenated and back to his best under Antonio Conte as part of a 3-4-3 system.

“I think the last season is the past - history,” said Conte. “Last season was bad for many players, not only one. When you finish in the table in 10th place, it means the season was not good for all the team. You win and lose together, never for only one player.”

But with Hazard in this sort of form, the Belgian might just be the difference.

Will Spurs suffer through lack of goals?

Tottenham still have the best defence in the Premier League, with only five goals conceded in ten games, and the only unbeaten record in all four English divisions, but their lack of goals is costing them points.

They have scored only 14 in the league, the same as Crystal Palace and Watford, and it is not just down to Harry Kane's absence. The England striker had scored only one league goal before getting injured, and Pochettino needs his midfielders to step up to the plate.

Dele Alli has scored three league goals but Eriksen and Dembele have yet to score, and that is a bigger problem for Pochettino. Heung Min Son blows hot and cold, and Vincent Janssen has only scored from the penalty spot, and has not looked sharp enough in open play.

So Pochettino needs Kane to return, but he also needs his midfielders to return to the scoring form of previous seasons.

Another step back for Juan Mata in Mourinho’s affections?

While much of the attention at Old Trafford on Saturday centred on Jose Mourinho’s touchline antics, many Manchester United supporters left the stadium scratching their heads about his decision-making.

Juan Mata was United’s best and most creative player, producing a fine through pass for Zlatan Ibrahimovic to shoot against the goalkeeper’s legs in the first half, and hitting the post in the second. Yet Mourinho, communicating with his bench via a foot messenger after being sent to the stands for dissent, decided to remove his stand-in captain with 17 minutes left, in a double substitution that saw Wayne Rooney introduced.

The relationship between Mata and Mourinho at United appears to be significantly better than it was at Chelsea, and the Spain international has been a regular starter this season. Indeed, the manager had enough faith in Mata to name him captain on Saturday, with Rooney, Michael Carrick and Chris Smalling all absent from the starting line-up.

Yet he still preferred to see out the match with the ineffective Rooney. It was a decision that may just have caused a doubt or two to creep back into Mata’s mind.

Aguero confirmation whets appetite for Barca visit

Pep Guardiola has confirmed that Sergio Aguero will start against Barcelona in the Champions League and the question is can his Manchester City match the Spanish giants.

City started reasonably well in their first clash at the Nou Camp but individual errors were punished ruthlessly by the brilliant attacking trio of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar.

Guardiola looks like he will go on the attack at the Etihad and it could be a gloriously entertaining game. Alternatively his tactics could backfire spectacularly and it could lead to another humiliation at the hands of the Barca machine. Either way, it feels like another must-watch game.