After being crowned World Champions last weekend, Arsenal returned to the Emirates for WSL action to face the league leaders, City.
City had inflicted Arsenal's only defeat in the WSL so far this season, beating them 3-2 back in October.
Bearing the new World Champions badge on their kit, Renee Slegers made two changes from the 3-2 win over Corinthians, with Daphne van Domselaar returning in net for the first time since the 2-1 win over Real Madrid on November 19th, and last Sunday's match winner, Caitlin Foord, was also given a start.
Arsenal starting 11:
Daphne van Domselaar; Lotte Wubben-Moy, Steph Catley (84), Katie McCabe (84), Emily Fox; Mariona Caldentey (89), Kim Little (C), Caitlan Foord, Olivia Smith (84), Beth Mead (68); Alessia Russo.
Bench:
Barbora Votikova, Naomi Williams; Laia Codina (89), Leah Williamson (84), Sophie Harwood, Smilla Holmberg (84); Frida Maanum (68), Chloe Kelly (84), Victoria Pelova.
Having thumped the defending champions Chelsea 5-1 last week, Andree Jeglertz named an unchanged side.
Manchester City starting 11:
Ayaka Yamashita; Jade Rose, Rebecca Knaak, Kerstin Casparij, Alex Greenwood (C); Yui Hasegawa, Laura Blindkilde Brown (45), Vivianne Miedema (96), Lauren Hemp, Kerolin (73); Bunny Shaw.
Bench:
GK: Khiara Keating; Gracie Prior, Leila Ouahabi; Grace Clinton (96), Sydney Lohmann, Laura Coombs, Sam Coffey (45); Lily Murphy, Iman Beney (73).
Manchester City had a great chance to take the lead ten seconds in as former Gunner, Vivianne Miedema, intercepted the Arsenal kick off and drove to the edge of the box before pulling her shot wide of the post.
Caitlin Foord had the Gunners' first opportunity of the game just a couple of minutes later, as she drove into the box with the ball and played it across goal, but Olivia Smith was unable to get a touch on it.
Despite how dominant Manchester City had been in the WSL this season, Arsenal had been the better side in the opening exchanges of this match.
A brilliant opening goal from Arsenal on 17 minutes, Mariona Caldentey carrying the ball about 10-15 yards before playing a sublime through ball to Smith, who calmly went round Ayaka Yamashita to tap into the empty net. It was the third consecutive game that the Canadian has scored in.
The Gunners were not afraid to play out from the back, and it allowed them to get into some dangerous positions throughout the first half.
Having sustained the constant waves of Arsenal attacks, City had an opportunity of their own when Kerolin burst down the line and played in Bunny Shaw, who squared it across goal, but no one was there to attack it.
Yamashita was taking advantage of Arsenal's high line, once again clipping a ball over the top for the City attack to chase, though on this occasion Kerolin was offside.
The Gunners came close to doubling their lead when Katie McCabe fired her powerful effort just wide of the post.
Smith's pace was causing a lot of issues for the Manchester City backline as the ball was played through once again, but on this occasion, Yamashita was quick to come off her line.
There was a goalmouth scramble on the edge of the box, and Alessia Russo managed to get a shot away, which was instinctively saved by Yamashita.
The following corner saw Russo's header pushed over by the City keeper.
An exceptional first-half performance from Arsenal saw them deservedly lead 1-0 at half-time.
Renee Slegers' side continued their controlling performance in the first ten minutes of the second half.
City had created the highest xG in the WSL this season by far (39.7), but Arsenal showed why their defence was so good, limiting the leaders to just 0.27 xG so far.
The hosts played through City's midfield once more, with Mariona's pass to Kim Little giving the Scot acres of space to run into. She played it to Foord, whose shot hit the side netting.
Arsenal did appear to get away with one, though, when Shaw played a pass through to Lauren Hemp, and it seemed like a clear case of DOGSO (denial of a clear goalscoring opportunity) by Mariona, but the referee didn't give it.
Not many big chances had happened in the second half, but Arsenal were controlling the play, which was the most crucial thing for them.
City had their biggest chance of the game so far in the 78th minute. Yui Hasegawa played an exceptional ball through to Miedema, who tried to go around her international teammate, van Domselaar, but Katie McCabe got back to prevent her from getting a shot away.
There were massive cheers ringing around the Emirates when both Leah Williamson and Chloe Kelly were brought off the bench.
England captain Williamson had not played since the 0-0 draw at the Emirates against Manchester United on January 10th, while Kelly was making her first appearance in the WSL since November's North London Derby draw, having come off the bench in both of Arsenal's Champions Cup games last week.
As the clock ticked towards 90, City were beginning to get desperate and almost forced van Domselaar into an error when she came to claim a long pass, but dropped the ball. Fortunately for the Gunners, though, she was able to regain control of it.
Arsenal controlled the game and deserved the three points, which moved them up to third in the WSL. Although they were ten points behind City, they would have a game in hand against bottom-of-the-table Leicester City to come.
Back-to-back wins at Chelsea and now at the Emirates against City will be extremely pleasing for Renee Slegers. They will need a bit of luck, but a late title push certainly cannot be ruled out if they continue to put in performances like this.
Next up for Arsenal is a trip to Belgium for their Champions League play-off tie against OH-Leuven on Wednesday.