Mikel Arteta described Arsenal's Champions League win over Porto as a "magical night" and believes the result was a big step forward for the club.

Arsenal progressed to the quarter-finals for the first time since 2010 after beating the Portuguese side 4-2 on penalties following a 1-1 draw on aggregate and 1-0 win on the night at the Emirates.

David Raya proved the hero, saving Galeno's spot-kick, after Leandro Trossard's goal in the first half had levelled the tie.

"A magic night," said Arteta. "What we expected, a really tough opponent, really well organised and very difficult to generate constant momentum in the game. That’s credit to them. We did it.

"We scored a beautiful goal and then we insisted in different ways. We had to do it at the end with the penalties. We prepared well. Credit to the coaches and the ones who took it.

"Of course David, who had some difficult moments to start but stood up with incredible personality and ambition. In the end we got the reward.

"For them to do it when the club hasn’t managed to do it for 14 years, I tell you it will be a boost. The margins are so small. You find a way to do it again. I see how much they want it, how much they try and they are able to sacrifice anything to win. When you play like this at the end good things are going to come your way.

"It’s another big step, especially as a club. For seven years we haven’t been in this competition and for 14 years we haven’t got this far. That tells you the difficulty of it. We want more and we’re going to go for it that’s for sure."

Arsenal are also aiming for a first Premier League title since 2003 and Arteta believes the result will only be a boost for his side, even as they compete on two fronts over the run-in.

"That’s the way you have to look at it right now," he said. "If you’re out, you think, ‘one less competition that’s great for the league’ now we’re in it’s the energy that it brings among the squad. It can be very powerful and very useful."

But the Spaniard played down suggestions he was thinking about Arsenal winning the Champions League for the first time.

"I think it’s still very far," he added. "Now I’m gonna sit at home, I’m gonna look at the other teams we have to play and start another big mountain to climb."