When Arsenal were beaten in the Women’s League Cup semi-finals by Manchester United less than three weeks ago, it felt like their season was in danger of drifting into mediocrity.

Triumph in the Champions Cup over Corinthians seven days ago was dismissed by some, but winning silverware on home soil seems to have buoyed a side who looked to be running out of ideas.

Not only did Renee Slegers’ side play with energy and purpose in front of a bumper home crowd, they also took advantage of City’s two main weaknesses.

Two weeks ago, London City Lionesses exploited the lack of pace at the heart of the City defence, and on Sunday that task fell to Smith. Eventually the visitors combated her threat in behind by having goalkeeper Yamashita adopt a high starting position, but by then the damage had been done.

On the other side of the ball, Arsenal stifled City’s build-up play by targeting midfielder Yui Hasegawa with high intensity pressing. City had to try to bypass midfield with long balls up to attack, but they were dealt with comfortably.

After feeling she had let her team-mates down by getting sent off in the League Cup defeat, Smith once again showed why Arsenal spent £1m on her.

The 21-year-old has only scored four league goals this term, but three of those have come in her past four outings. Next season she could be a real threat from the start.

While the Gunners are 10 points off the pace in the WSL title race, they remain one of the favourites in both the Champions League and the FA Cup.

It could yet be another highly successful season.