Iman Beney's late goal gave Manchester City a crucial victory over title rivals Arsenal and moved them to within a point of leaders Chelsea in the Women's Super League.

Arsenal substitute Chloe Kelly, making her return to former club City, thought she had dealt a blow when she equalised with fewer than 10 minutes to spare.

Renee Slegers' side came from behind twice but City, deserving of their victory, hammered the final nail in the coffin when Beney coolly slotted the ball past goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar late on.

Khadija Shaw had earlier headed City in front before Mariona Caldentey's superb equaliser early in the second half.

Defeat for European champions Arsenal leaves them five points behind Chelsea and without a win in their past three matches - a damaging start to their hopeful title challenge.

It is a significant result for City, who suffered defeat by Chelsea on the opening day and could not afford to drop points to another rival.

Having started the season under new boss Andree Jeglertz with a narrow 2-1 defeat by Chelsea, City knew they had to make up ground to mount a title challenge.

Defeating another key rival in Arsenal was the perfect way to do so and they have closed in on Chelsea as a result, sitting just one point behind having each played five games.

What will be even more pleasing is the manner in which City took their chances at key moments, capitalising on a period of first-half pressure before responding to Arsenal's early second-half equaliser, and again with minutes to spare.

They were the side who looked in control for larger periods and created more dangerous opportunities, often pushing Arsenal's backline into mistakes.

Shaw was at her best, causing problems with her devious runs in behind and presence in the box, while Aoba Fujino was lively down City's right-hand side.

It was also another impressive showing from full-back Kerstin Casparij - she is quickly becoming one of the most influential players in the WSL.

There will be concern as to how City allowed Arsenal back into the game twice, but given the high stakes in matches between the WSL's top four, it won't bother them much.

There were plenty of eyes on England forward Kelly, who left Manchester City in the summer in a permanent deal following a topsy-turvy transfer saga that ended with Kelly accusing some at her former club of attempting to "assassinate her character".

She was cautiously left out of the starting XI by Slegers, who has preferred record-signing Olivia Smith on the right-hand side so far this season, but was needed in the second half.

A ripple of sarcastic cheers and boos could be heard in the City supporters' section when Kelly made her introduction but she had the perfect response.

A lovely, curling effort pulled Arsenal back from 2-1 down and Kelly wheeled away in celebration, thinking she had salvaged a crucial point for the Gunners.

However, it was not Kelly who would have the last laugh as City refused to leave without three points and came straight back at Arsenal to deal the final blow.

Instead, Kelly and her Arsenal team-mates left the pitch to chants of "Chloe, what's the score?".

Manchester City travel to Liverpool on Sunday, 12 October (16:45 BST) in their next WSL match.

Meanwhile, Arsenal's defence of their European title begins on Tuesday, 7 October as they host record holders OL Lyonnes at Meadow Park (20:00 BST). They are back in WSL action on Sunday, 12 October against Brighton at the Emirates (14:30 BST).

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