1 Can City ensure the gap does not grow?

With 16 games remaining Manchester City are seven points behind Manchester United. Sunday suggested Roberto Mancini's team can maintain the pursuit. After United beat Liverpool 2-1 at Old Trafford in the early game, City defeated Arsenal 2-0 for a first win at the north London club since 1975. A loss would have widened the margin to a yawning 10 points. Instead, on Saturday, City have a chance to turn the tables: beat Fulham at 3pm at the Etihad Stadium and United have 24 hours to contemplate their advantage being down to four points before kicking off at fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday afternoon.

2 The absence of Yaya Touré at the Africa Cup of Nations

Mancini was without his midfield engine for a month as Ivory Coast reached the final of last season's Africa Cup of Nations, during which time the club were eliminated from the FA and Carling Cups and lost at Everton in the league. Touré (plus his brother Kolo and Abdul Razak) have departed for this year's tournament and could miss six weeks should Ivory Coast again reach the final. Touré had started every league game before he left on 2 January; without him City lose their driving force.

3 City's central defensive resources need a boost

With Kolo Touré's absence in South Africa, City have only three recognised centre-backs – Matija Nastasic, Joleon Lescott and Vincent Kompany – though Mancini could be without the latter for two league games (plus an FA Cup match) if the red card the Belgian received at Arsenal is upheld. Dedryck Boyata had already been recalled from a loan at FC Twente to cover for Touré but his City career has been unconvincing, so Mancini's need to strengthen in the current window is pressing.

4 Van Persie must stay injury-free



Until last season, each Arsenal medical bulletin was awaited anxiously to discover if the Dutchman would miss yet more games. Not any more: Van Persie made 57 appearances in all competitions during the 2011-12 campaign and, having signed from Arsenal, his goal glut in the league stands at 17 in 22 appearances as he continues to get better and better.

5 Will United be distracted by the Champions League?

On 13 February Sir Alex Ferguson's men are at Real Madrid for the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie. Manchester United could be knocked out at this stage by tough opponents, but even so there is the potential for disruption to their league campaign, with the tricky home encounter with Everton three days before travelling to Spain and games with Queens Park Rangers and Norwich City to navigate before the return match with Real three weeks later. This could be the chance for Manchester City, who have no continental football to distract them, to close the gap.

6 Will Mancini give Milner a run in the team?

Samir Nasri has had minimal impact this season. The playmaker flits in and out of form and is yet to illustrate consistently why Mancini brought him to City two summers ago. Nasri has just completed a three-game suspension for being sent off on New Year's Day during the 4-3 win at Norwich City but there is a case for giving James Milner a chance. His blistering shot for the opener at Arsenal again illustrated the directness City can lack and, with David Silva providing enough artistry for any side, Milner's earthier qualities appear better suited for the long slog through the dark weeks of the new year.

7 Can Agüero or Tevez finally go on a prolific run?

Given the quality of the two Argentina forwards the answer is surely yes, though Sergio Agüero first has to return from a torn hamstring. Time ticks on City's title quest so one or both of Carlos Tevez and Agüero need to start clocking up the goals over a string of matches. Currently, City have scored 13 fewer than United's 56, with Edin Dzeko the only striker to have reached double figures in goals.

8 The second Manchester derby in April

City took control of last year's title race with victory over United on 30 April. Mancini says "four or five" points is a manageable gap, but should United welcome City to Old Trafford on 6 April with the margin no more than, say, seven, the Italian can remind his men of the 6-1 hammering they gave Ferguson's team in last year's corresponding fixture and tell them that another three points and retaining the crown will be back on.

9 Will United's wide men last the distance?

Injury has limited Antonio Valencia to 14 league starts and Ashley Young to 13 – the latter left Old Trafford on crutches on Sunday – and this has also been the issue, along with uneven form, for Nani, who has begun only four matches. Factor in Ryan Giggs turning 40 later this year – he has made six starts – and the preference of Ferguson's other option on the wing, Shinji Kagawa, for the No10 role and there is a pragmatic logic to the manager's development of a diamond system. The jury is out, though, on how effective the narrower system will be if utilised in a vital match.

10 The spectre of City's comeback last season

United are accustomed to haunting teams with their habit of late, late winning shows, yet City's first title in 44 years was claimed from being eight points behind the Reds with six matches left. From there, Mancini's team ghosted to the championship on goal difference by beating Queens Park Rangers 3-2, thanks to Agüero's winner deep in added time with virtually the final kick of the 2011-12 season. United will not forget this.