Man City Women were the first to defeat Arsenal Women this season, as their 3-2 victory sent them second in the Barclays WSL.
City survived a dominant opening spell by the Gunners to force Daphne van Domselaar to turn the ball onto her crossbar, before keeping out a Vivianne Miedema header as Olivia Smith blocked the follow-up shot.
It was the home side that opened the scoring in the last 10 minutes of the first half, Khadija Shaw stooping to her home Kerstin Casparij’s cross.
Manchester City should have had a second before the break but Shaw was unable to finish and then Casparij netted from an offside position.
Just 45 seconds after the interval Arsenal were level, Mariona Caldentey firing home from an Emily Fox pass.
Iman Beney forced a corner moments after entering the field for City, from which Casparij got the final touch to regain the lead.
Van Domselaar was soon keeping her side in it when saving from another Shaw header, Beth Mead fresh off the bench forced a save from Ayaka Yamashita.
Fellow substitute Stina Blackstenius was gifted a golden chance but the keeper came out to block the shot.
Another Arsenal sub did make the difference in the last 10 minutes, Chloe Kelly’s defelected strike flying into the top corner.
With two minutes of the 90 to go, Shaw set up Beney to see Man City lead for a third time.
While Manchester City move to within a point of leaders Chelsea, Arsenal stay fifth five points behind them.
