A stocky, physical defenceman, Arbour also developed an offensive dimension to his game later in his career.
He appeared in 17 games for the Penguins in 1968–69, but found himself in the Western Hockey League for 1969–70 with the Vancouver Canucks.
Arbour jumped to the upstart World Hockey Association in 1972, joining the Minnesota Fighting Saints.
He immediately established himself as one of the club's top defenceman, finishing his first season with 6 goals and 33 points, along with 186 penalty minutes.
For 1976–77, he found himself back with the Fighting Saints, but finished out the season with the Calgary Cowboys after Minnesota, too, folded mid-year.