Arsene Wenger celebrated another "little step forward" for his Arsenal side after Aaron Ramsey's dramatic late goal left them top of their Champions League group.
Ramsey, who has been battling a hamstring injury, climbed off the bench to score in injury time as the Gunners ran out 1-0 victors at Marseille's Stade Velodrome.
The result saw the Gunners leapfrog their hosts in Group F, where they will now be favourites to finish in pole position.
It also represents a fifth win in six matches across all competitions, a major improvement for a side who looked at sea in the aftermath of their humiliating 8-2 defeat against Manchester United earlier this season.
Wenger, typically, refused to read too much into the match but is happy to see results heading in the right direction.
"This will help us with our confidence but if you look back at the last six games you will see we only have one defeat," said Wenger.
"We are slowly getting there and this will help. We've made a little step forward but we have to be humble.
"We are a team who must continue to grow and we have to show that. The game at home to Marseille will be very important."
Asked if he felt fortunate to take victory in a game that looked certain to end in a stalemate that would have been fair on both sides, Wenger was quick to point out that luck works both ways.
"We lost two points in Dortmund in last second of the game," he said. "And we lost a Champions League final (in 2006) in the last part of the game when we had 10 men so we are not always lucky. But when you face good opposition you need to take your chances.
"It's an important win and you take any win away from home in the Champions League."
Wenger admitted he was keen not to risk Ramsey from the start in a bid to keep him away from further injury, but was pleased the critical chance of the game fell to the Welshman.
"I do not want to overplay him," said Wenger.
"I've seen in my mind that he has been injured for a year and that Jack Wilshere played a lot last year (and is now injured). I try to be a bit more cautious when I can. But it was a great finish. When you see Aaron Ramsey in front of goal you know you have a good chance to score. He is a goalscorer."
Marseille boss Didier Deschamps was left frustrated by his side's late failure, having survived one late chance before Ramsey's strike.
"It was a game of not many opportunities and this is cruel and disappointing for us," said Deschamps.
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"We are very disappointed to lose this game. We had a warning right before the goal with Robin van Persie. I was angry because I had warned them. One point would have been good for us."
