Rio Ave had to hold on to all three points and fight off a comeback, after 10-man Arouca produced a late surge in an attempt to rescue a point.
Arouca defender Gege had a game to forget, as he unfortunately put into his own net in the opening minute, giving his side a huge task to get anything out of the game from the get-go.
The Cape Verde international then did his side no favours, getting two yellow cards in the space of 10 minutes, seeing red for a reckless challenge on the half-hour mark.
The hosts then doubled their lead from a corner after the break, as Brazilian defender Marcelo nodded in Renan Bressan's corner, giving the visitors a bleak outlook with half-an-hour left.
However, Arouca started to display a comeback and grabbed themselves, in hindsight a consolation goal, as Jose Velazquez scored with his head from a corner, with the Venezuelan defender was left completely unmarked, making it 2-1.
The game was put to bed however, as Joao Novais restored Rio Ave's two-goal deficit, after he latched onto a cross to finish smartly past the helpless Rafael Bracali in the visitor's goal.
The victory puts Rio Ave in fourth, while Arouca stay in eighth.
