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There has never been any question about both Arsenal and Manchester City having style, but the debate over whether they have the substance to be Premier League champions continues to rage.Despite owning the last two Champions League spots in the table, both Arsenal and Manchester City have armed critics with plenty of skepticism over whether either or both can possibly overtake Chelsea by seasons end heading into Sundays crunch clash of these top-four teams at the Etihad.Much of it has to do with the flowing style of play both employ, a direct contrast to the blood-and-thunder mantra of the Premier League. English fans have long favoured the crunching physical tackle and the challenge of 50/50 balls in the air over the one-touch passes designed to open up defences to exploit via through balls.While Arsene Wenger has built up some capital in his two decades on the Arsenal touchline to deflect barbs and criticisms, it is the arrival of Pep Guardiola at Manchester City (10-3-3) that has added fire to this debate throughout the club backrooms and pubs of England.Wenger took to Guardiolas defense ahead of the midweek matches this week, after Guardiola claimed he wasnt a coach for the tackles, so I dont train the tackles after Manchester Citys 3-1 loss at Leicester City. Its not surprising given the two share a kindred spirit in how they construct offencesPep Guardiola, like myself, we are for offensive football. And when you dont win, people question that. And thats as simple as that, the Gunners boss said. Overall, I think what he wanted to say is that he promoted a game that is positive and I agree with him on that. You respect him for that.At first, it looked like Guardiola was every bit the genius tipped by supporters upon his takeover of City from Bayern Munich -- the team stormed out of the gate to win their first 10 matches in all competitions, including their Champions League playoff to enter the group stages.But that swagger has given way to a City side struggling to find its defensive identity as Guardiola tinkers with his backline on a match-to-match basis. As well as a shift in opponents philosophy to simply let the Citizens pass the ball around the middle of the pitch and then dare them to pile drive through two banks of defenders in the final third.Their 2-0 home win over Watford on Wednesday was more persistence than panache -- defender Pablo Zabaleta finished off a nice cross from Kevin De Bruyne in the first half, and David Silva sealed the three points with a goal on 86 minutes as City struck on the counter as Watford threw numbers forward in search of an equaliser.The victory, though, came at a high price as Guardiola lost Ilkay Gundogan to a torn ACL, a season-ending injury that puts a gaping hole in the midfield for both Citys Premier League title hopes as well as their Champions League aspirations come the knockout stages in February.It is so, so difficult for him, its sad for him, were going to miss him a lot, its unlucky, but thats football, Guardiola told the teams official website.Now we need him to feel we are there and wait and come back safe. Hes going to be operated (upon) and be back as soon as possible.Gundogan will be the fourth key regular out for this match for Guardiola. Defender and talisman Vincent Kompany remains sidelined due to injury while forward and top scorer Sergio Aguero and midfielder Fernandinho continue to serve their four and three-match bans, respectively, for their roles in a brawl at the end of their 3-1 loss to Chelsea on Dec. 3.On the plus side, Yaya Toure has excelled in the midfield since returning to Guardiolas good graces last month. There is still plenty of quality in the attack with De Bruyne, Silva, and Raheem Sterling in the midfield. It will be interesting to see if Guardiola opts for a solo striker approach again after using Nolito atop a 4-1-4-1 formation versus Watford and leaving Kelechi Iheanacho on the bench.You know the reason why he was out in the first part of the season, Guardiola said about Toure. Now he is playing like he can be, like I met him at Barcelona. Theres no doubt about his quality.Wenger is no stranger to the criticisms that come with his style of play, and some seasons they are louder than others given Arsenals fixture in the top four of the table while not winning any Premier League titles since last lifting the trophy in 2004.But the all-too familiar questions were being asked again after a 2-1 defeat at Everton on Wednesday dropped the Gunners (10-4-2) into third -- behind Liverpool on goal difference, one point better than Manchester City and six adrift of rampaging Chelsea.The Toffees took the match to Arsenal in the second half, utilising that physical style of play Arsenal rarely answer. Wenger felt rightly aggrieved by an error by referee Mark Clattenburg that resulted in an Everton corner that led to Ashley Williams eventual match-winner on 86 minutes, but he also noted his team seemed to back down as Everton grew in the ascendancyWe lost the game because I feel we started well and after that maybe we lost a bit of urgency because we were a bit too comfortable and then Everton made it very physical. Overall, I believe that from then on it disturbed our game and we created less flow going forward.We didnt create too many but we had clear-cut chances in the game we didnt take. After that you can be caught away from home on a corner like that.Like Guardiola, Wenger is dealing with some key absences due to injury, most notably central defender Shkodran Mustfai and holding midfielder Santi Carzola. Denny Welbeck, Aaron Ramsey and Per Mertesacker continue to be long-term injury absences. Wenger also again addressed the issue of contract extensions for Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil, both of whom have 18 months remaining on their respective deals.You waste your time because these players have 18 months on their contracts and I dont see why there is any urgency in every press conference to have that question, Wenger mused. Maybe you lack a bit of creativity in the newspapers and you always come up with the same subject. I dont see why that should turn up in every press conference.Arsenal took four points in the two games between the teams last season, posting a 2-1 victory at the Emirates and scrambling from a pair of one-goal deficits to forge a 2-2 tie at the Etihad. Olivier Giroud scored in both matches, and Sanchez scored the equaliser in the corresponding fixture. De Bruyne and Aguero netted the two goals for City.The Gunners are unbeaten in their last five (2-3-0) against City but also have just two wins in their last nine trips (2-2-5) to the blue side of Manchester. Arsenal have won 23 of the 38 all-time Premier League matches between the teams, while all six of Citys wins have come since 2006.Philip Rivers Chargers Jersey . - Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco is not a fan of his teams use of the wildcat formation, saying "it makes you look like a high school offence. 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Nasir Adderley Chargers Jersey .com) - The Pittsburgh Penguins placed forward James Neal on injured reserve Tuesday.SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Arike Ogunbowale provided the offense and her Notre Dame teammates provided the defense as the Fighting Irish played as the No. 1 team for the first time in 15 years and looked the part in a 107-47 victory over Central Michigan in the first round of the Preseason WNIT on Friday night.Ogunbowale scored a career-high 30 points on 12-of-13 shooting, including making all five 3-point attempts.I think Arike was in a zone tonight -- not on defense -- but offensively it was definitely an outstanding game, especially from the 3-point line, Notre Dame coach Muffet McGraw said.Ogunbowale, who made only 18 3-pointers as a freshman last season, said she had focused on improving her shot from the outside.Freshman year they sagged off on me a lot so I knew this year they would probably start it. So now they have to play me fair, she said. They have to guard me on the 3 and guard me driving so its harder for them.Central coach Sue Guevara said she was surprised by Ogunbowales outside shooting.Shes really worked on the 3-ball. Because we know thats shes a Mack truck that can get to the basket and pull up. But boy, hitting that 3, she said.The Irish scored the first 15 points, hitting 6-of-7 shots while the Chippewas were 0-of-4 with two turnovers and no rebounds. The Irish made 76 percent of their shots in the first quarter to open a 35-9 lead. They extended the lead to 56-20 at halftime and 81-28 at the end of the third quarter.Marina Mabrey, who came off the bench because McGraw said she lacked focus before the game, added 17 points for the Irish and Lindsay Allen had 13 points and eight assists. The Irish outscored the Chippewas 46-16 inside and Notre Dames reserves outscored Centrals bench 39-17.Aleah SSwary led Central with a career-high 15 points.ddddddddddddIG PICTURECentral Michigan: The Chippewas were overmatched in their first game against a top-ranked team even though league coaches picked them to win the Mid-American Conference with four returning starters from last years team that finished 22-11.Notre Dame: The Irish, who won by an average of 29 points against non-conference opponents during the regular season last year, had little trouble in winning their 21st straight season-opener.POLL IMPLICATIONS: The Irish should be able to hang onto their top ranking following a dominant performance.TIP-INS: Notre Dame had 13 made baskets in the first quarter. The Chippewas had 13 shot attempts. ... Central missed its first five free throws. ... Chippewas starter Jewel Cotton had two fouls in the first three minutes and another starter, Presley Hudson, had two in less than five minutes. The Chippewas dropped to 1-5 all-time against the Irish, with the lone 72-69 win coming 33 years ago.SHE SAID IT:We couldnt do anything. Theyre bigger, theyre more physical, they outweigh us, Guevara said. Their guard play was way too much for us. Way too much.INJURIES:The Irish were without standout freshman Jackie Young, who is out indefinitely with an injured right thumb sustained last week in an exhibition game.UP NEXTCentral Michigan: Central has to wait to see who it will face in the second round. The Chippewas will play their home-opener against Oakland on Nov. 22.Notre Dame: The Irish will play another three games at home in the tournament if they keep winning, starting with Fordham on Monday. ' ' '