Arsenal forward Theo Walcott has paid tribute to his side's win over Marseille on Wednesday in the Champions League.

The England international scored the opener as the Gunners got their European campaign off to the perfect start with a 2-1 win over Les Phoceens at the Stade Velodrome in Group F.

With group favourites Borussia Dortmund losing at Napoli, Walcott believes that the night's results have worked well in Arsenal's favour.

"It's a massive victory for us," Walcott told reporters. "I felt we were quite under the cosh at times and they showed some great football and it's a hostile place to come, but I expressed beforehand that I thought we could win this game and it's a very crucial win because Dortmund lost as well.

"It's going to be a very tight [group] and it just shows that every point does count, and the guys were fantastic tonight.

"We dug in and it was important for us to stay in the game. The first goal was always going to be crucial, and I managed to get that, but there's no easy games and obviously Dortmund lost, and they were probably the favourites from our group."

Arsenal host Stoke City in the Premier League on Sunday.