Oivia Smith celebrates scoring for Arsenal against Manchester CityGetty Images
At a glance
Arsenal end Man City's winning run to boost top-three hopes
Olivia Smith scores early on as City fail to score in WSL for the first time this season
City are eight points clear at the top of the table with Arsenal 10 points behind in third place
Alex Brotherton
BBC Sport journalist at Emirates Stadium
Arsenal ended Manchester City's 13-game winning streak in the Women's Super League with a 1-0 victory that boosted their own hopes of a top-three finish.
Olivia Smith's early strike inflicted City's first WSL defeat since the opening day of the season and prevented the visitors from extending their lead at the top of the table to 11 points.
Arsenal were not in WSL action last weekend because of their participation in the inaugural Fifa Champions Cup, and the home side looked buoyed after adding more silverware to an already bursting cabinet.
City forward Vivianne Miedema went close to scoring against her former side after just 11 seconds, but Arsenal dominated thereafter and limited the runway league leaders to counter-attacking opportunities.
Smith opened the scoring in the 17th minute with Arsenal's first real chance; the Canadian winger won a race with City defender Rebecca Knaak to reach Mariona Caldentey's sublime through ball, rounded goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita and slotted into the empty goal.
The Gunners continued to utilise Smith's blistering pace against City's high defensive line, and Yamashita was at full stretch to keep out an Alessia Russo strike just before half-time.
City were improved in a second half of few chances and found the back of the net through Miedema, but the whistle had gone for a tug on Katie McCabe.
Lauren Hemp's shanked effort from 10 yards summed up City's afternoon; their lead at the top of the table is now eight points with seven games remaining, with Arsenal 10 points behind with a game in hand.
What's next for both teams?
Arsenal's defence of their European title continues on Wednesday when they travel to Belgium to face Leuven in the first leg of their Champions League knockout play-off round tie (17:45 GMT). Slegers' side return to WSL action away to Brighton on Sunday, 15 February (14:30 GMT).
City host Leicester in their next WSL match on Friday (19:00).
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Arsenal
Manchester City
Starting XI
14D. van Domselaar
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11K. McCabe
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7S. Catley
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2E. Fox
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8Mariona Caldentey
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10K. Little
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19C. Foord
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23A. Russo
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9B. Mead
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15O. Smith
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5Laia Codina
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31S. Holmberg
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18C. Kelly
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12F. Maanum
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6L. Williamson
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Starting XI
31A. Yamashita
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5A. Greenwood
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27R. Knaak
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4J. Rose
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18K. Casparij
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25Y. Hasegawa
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19L. Blindkilde Brown
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11L. Hemp
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10V. Miedema
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14Kerolin
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9K. Shaw
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24I. Beney
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6G. Clinton
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17S. Coffey
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