Arsenal have one foot in the Women's Champions League knockout stage after a narrow 1-0 win over Juventus.
Vivianne Miedema opened the scoring with a fine finish against the Italians, to ensure Jonas Eidevall's team remain unbeaten in Europe this season and stay top of a tricky looking Group C. The result means the Gunners are now five points clear of third-placed Juventus, with only two rounds of fixtures remaining.
It was a deserved three points for the Arsenal who controlled the majority of the contest against the Italian champions, particularly the first half. But they had to settle for one goal which made it a nervy ending, although Juventus rarely threatened bar a late free-kick from Valentina Cernoia.
Le Bianconere had shown in the last meeting between the two clubs in Turin that they offered a serious threat to the Gunners unbeaten start to their European campaign. But despite being backed by a vocal band of travelling supporters, it was a disappointing return to North London for former Gunners manager Joe Montemurro.
Arsenal weren't as proactive in the second half, although Caitlin Foord and Stina Blackstenius both went close to making the lead more comfortable.
Leah Williamson returned for her first start since September and wore the captain's armband, coming in for Jen Beattie as the only change from the side that beat Everton 1-0 in the WSL at the weekend. And the England skipper looked sharp for the 62 minutes she was on the pitch before being replaced by fellow returning defender Rafaelle Souza.
Juventus had the games' first chance inside four minutes, when the influential Arianna Caruso forced a sharp stop from Manuela Zinsberger after getting free in the penalty area. At the other end, Caitlin Foord forced Pauline Peyraud-Magnin to dart quickly off her line to cut off Laura Wienroither's long pass.
Blackstenius then had the ball in the net after coolly finishing past the Juve keeper, only to be correctly ruled out for offside. But fortunately the Gunners only had to wait another four minutes for the opener, Blackstenius finding space out wide to cross for Miedema, who volleyed home at the back post for her second goal of the week.
It was nearly two on the night when an aggressive press gave Swedish striker Blackstenius a clear sight of goal only for her to fire just over. Frida Maanum also stung the Juventus' goalkeepers gloves with all the big chances falling to the hosts.
Foord again went close in the second half but her curling effort was well held by Peyraud-Magnin. Juve did force some goalmouth scrambles from set-pieces but weren't able to consistently work Zinsberger.
Cernoia's free-kick nearly got Juve an undeserved point in the dying minutes, but thankfully could only land on the roof of the goal. The result means Arsenal are on the verge of a quarter-final place, the stage of the competition they were knocked out at last season by VfL Wolfsburg.
They top Group C with 10 points, Lyon sit second on seven and Juventus have five. The Gunners have already registered a 5-1 win at defending champions Lyon, who visit North London next week.
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