Goals from Lucy Bronze, Isobel Christiansen and Toni Duggan earned the victory for Nick Cushing’s side, who have a game in hand over those above them.
The triumph was thoroughly deserved and flattered the hosts somewhat as the Blues dominated and could have been out of sight before half-time.
Crucially though, City took all three points back to Manchester to ensure they are very much in the title hunt. The goal that decided the encounter was another worldie strike by Duggan, who cut in from the left before firing beyond Emma Byrne.
Reflecting on the win – and her sixth goal in as many games – Duggan declared: “It was always going to be tough against Arsenal but we got the three points and I’m buzzing!
“It was nice to score like that - I think that’s becoming a bit of a specialty for me!
“I’ve been cutting in from the left like that since the Everton days but I have to give credit to the team because I don’t think it was a great performance from myself.
“The rest of the girls dug it out and it was a great team performance in the end.
“We’re in the mix [for the title] – we can’t hide from that – and we’ve never shied away from the fact we want it.
“The next few games are going to be like cup finals but we’re ready for them because we want silverware.”
With Chelsea having romped to a 4-0 win to go top of the table earlier in the day, both sides knew three points would be crucial in the hunt for the WSL crown.
In the bid to secure a sixth successive win, Cushing opted to field the same side that beat the league leaders in Staines a fortnight ago.
The visitors started brightly and looked more comfortable in possession in the opening 45 minutes, peppering the hosts’ goal with chances.
The first opportunity of the evening fell to Christiansen but the midfielder drilled straight at Byrne, before Duggan poked wide and Jennifer Beattie then forced the Arsenal goalkeeper to tip over as the onslaught continued - but while the away side were thoroughly deserving of their lead, with each missed opportunity, the fear of punishment grew.
Within a minute of the second half, it arrived.
Arsenal’s Scott was the one to find the equaliser, lobbing the ball over Karen Bardsley and into the back of the net. Whether it was meant as a cross or shot mattered little – the fact it levelled the score did.
City didn’t have to wait long to restore their advantage though, as the influential clinching the Nissan Goal of the Season award at City Live last week, the striker scored another beauty, unleashing a wonderful effort into the top corner – not too dissimilar to the one she hit at Bristol Academy.
.@toni_duggan's goal for @MCWFC is so good it's worth watching again and again on loop. #MCFC https://t.co/Q4IIUriWjw
— BT Sport Football (@btsportfootball) August 9, 2015Corboz almost added a fourth but poked straight at Byrne before Arsenal clawed their way back into the game with ten minutes of normal time remaining, courtesy of a Natalia De Pablos header.
That goal ensured a nervy finish but the away side hung on for a precious win.
Next week, the Blues return to Continental Cup action with a trip to Sunderland on Saturday 15 August. Kick-off for that clash has been changed from 6:30pm to 7:30pm.
