Arsenal 1-0 Man City: Smith scores winner to keep league leaders' lead at 8 pts

Olivia Smith scored the winning goal as Arsenal delayed Manchester City's pursuit to the Women's Super League title by beating the leaders 1-0 at the Emirates Stadium.

Defeat for City means Andree Jeglertz's side's winning run of 13 matches comes to an end - with Renee Slegers still unbeaten at home as Arsenal head coach.

With Stina Blackstenius missing, record-signing Smith was given the striker spot by Slegers for Arsenal and delivered on the faith put in her by opening the scoring on 17 minutes.

The Gunners forward was played in after a lovely through ball by Mariona Caldentey, before rounding Ayaka Yamashita to score.

League leaders City, who began the weekend with a 11-point advantage over the chasing pack, failed to show the firepower that makes them the league's top scoreres with only one shot on target across the 90 minutes. That came via a tame first-half Bunny Shaw effort which was easily dealt with by the returning Daphne Van Domselaar.

Arsenal continued their dominance of the first half as Alessia Russo saw two goalbound efforts saved by Yamashita, while Katie McCabe and Caldentey put efforts just wide.

The second half was a slightly different story, with half-time substitute Sam Coffey giving City more of a bite in midfield.

There was controversy though as Caldentey brought down Lauren Hemp with the City winger through on goal. Yet referee Abi Byrne continued play and Caldentey avoided punishment.

City continued their push for an equaliser as Vivianne Miedema went through on goal. But a mixture of indecision and superb McCabe defending denied her a goal against her former club.

The result sees City hold an eight-point lead over second-placed Manchester United - with a derby match between the pair still to come this season. Arsenal sit ten points off City with a game in hand over the league leaders - against Leicester later in the season.