Manchester City twice came from behind to beat Arsenal at Etihad Stadium and increase the pressure on Gunners manager Renee Slegers.

The result leaves Arsenal trailing defending Women's Super League champions City by 10 points after just five games.

England international Lauren Hemp scored twice, while Khadija Shaw confirmed the victory in an explosive second half.

A more cagey first half had ended all square after Lisa Baum bundled in Arsenal's opener from close range, only for Hemp to level with a powerful finish from an acute angle.

The hosts started slowly after the break and were punished when Alessia Russo latched on to Yui Hasegawa's stray pass in the penalty area and thumped Arsenal back into the lead.

But City substitute Kerstin Casparij brilliantly curled the ball into the top right corner with her first touch before Hemp slotted the ball under goalkeeper Anneke Borbe to put the hosts in front.

Shaw sealed the win late on with a shot from the edge of the area that took a slight deflection.

Both teams had chances to add to their tally but this is a devastating result for Arsenal and scrutiny on manager Slegers will build once again.

Meanwhile, Manchester City return to the top of the table and remain the only team to have won all of their matches this season.

Manchester City's defence of their WSL title had gone smoothly with four wins from their opening four matches but this was their biggest test yet.

The arrival of an out-of-sorts Arsenal meant City were perhaps favourites going into the game but it was an intriguing tactical battle and momentum swung both ways throughout.

City had more control and pressure in the first half, coming close on several occasions through Beth Mead and Shaw, though goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita had to push behind Emily Fox's effort.

Hemp and Shaw initially struggled to get involved but the England winger was unusually animated when celebrating her equaliser three minutes after Arsenal took the lead.

Shaw remained unusually quiet for much of the afternoon. The Jamaican squandered a brilliant chance early in the second half when her heavy touch allowed Arsenal goalkeeper Borbe the chance to gobble the ball up before she could get a shot away in a one-on-one encounter.

Shaw was denied again later in the second half when Leah Williamson's deft touch took the ball away from her after a dangerous cross from Carlotta Wamser.

Those moments could have come back to haunt City as Arsenal looked more creative and threatening in the second half – but Casparij's introduction had an instant impact and Shaw eventually made the most of her opportunities when she stroked the ball past Borbe.

It is an important victory for Andree Jeglertz's side, who showed they are still the team to beat in the WSL this season.

It has been a chaotic few days for Arsenal, who came into this match seven points adrift of City, knowing defeat would put them in a really difficult position in the WSL title race.

Pressure has been building on manager Slegers and she did not help her case when she did not show up for post-match media duties on Wednesday following their draw with Paris FC in the Women's Champions League.

Scrutiny on Slegers increased as a result, but she was calm as she addressed the situation on Friday, stating she made the decision to be with her team as they were emotional following the result.

After such a poor start to the campaign, it was perhaps understandable that City started more strongly at Etihad Stadium and were building pressure throughout the first half.

But Arsenal dug in and were rewarded for their efforts when Baum's goal was allowed to stand despite replays suggesting the forward was offside when she helped the ball over the line from Lotte Wubben-Moy's downward header.

That irked City, who responded through Hemp, and Arsenal were dealt a blow when midfielder Mariona Caldentey went off in tears with what looked like a hamstring injury just before the break.

The visitors made the brighter start to the second half though and Russo delivered a reminder of her quality when she used the space afforded to her to thump the ball into the far corner and make it 2-1.

The Gunners have struggled in front of goal this season, scoring just twice in the WSL prior to their visit to Manchester, so they looked revitalised when Russo's strike hit the back of the net.

But to lose the lead twice and come away without any points was the worst possible scenario for Arsenal, who could be out of the title race just five weeks into the season.