Arsenal and United join England's top dogs in Europe

Sir Alex Ferguson called it an "absolutely fantastic night" for British football as Manchester United and Arsenal joined Chelsea and Liverpool in qualifying for the knockout round of the Champions' League on top of their groups. Already qualified, Celtic finished second in Group F and the United manager predicted a British team could win the competition - "I just hope," he added, "it's us".

Not on the evidence of the first 27 minutes, but after Benfica's Nelson had shocked Old Trafford with a brilliant drive past Edwin van der Sar, United burst into life and ran out 3-1 winners with goals from Nemanja Vidic, Ryan Giggs and Louis Saha.

In Porto, Arsenal eased to a goalless draw that allowed them and their Portuguese opponents to progress, although Arsène Wenger's side survived two shots against the frame of Jens Lehmann's goal.

Now the Premiership's Champions' League representatives will face teams from a pool that includes Barcelona, Real Madrid, Porto, Roma, PSV Eindhoven, Internazionale, Celtic and Lille in the draw on 15 December. While no side can face a team they played in the group stages, the prospect of a trip to Spain for one of the English clubs is potentially the tie of the round.

Ferguson admitted that his side had, once again, "tortured the supporters" by only playing their best football after they had first fallen behind. "I thought the [Benfica] goal lifted us, it lifted the supporters, the players got angry and we played like Manchester United," Ferguson said. "From there we got better and better."

Once Wayne Rooney had, in Ferguson's words, been "put back in his normal position" - alongside Saha in the attack in a 4-4-2 system - United thrived. "We have too many young players to play with patience, a slow game or a measured build up," Ferguson said. "When they play the cut-throat way they're a good team.

"From now on every game is of real significance, in terms of the quality of the opposition. I hope that helps us. The most important thing is not to take anything for granted. We can't spurn chances like we did against Copenhagen and Celtic. That is a warning."

In Porto, Wenger said after the goalless draw which took Arsenal through: "It would have been a massive disappointment to go out after reaching the final last year, but I feel in the knockout stages we will be able to play with freedom.

"This was a tough group but now we can put it in the cupboard until February and concentrate on the League. I hope by then we will have our big players back."

Porto twice hit the post but, with Hamburg defeating CSKA Moscow, Arsenal would have progressed even had they lost.