5 Lessons We Learned from Arsenal's Victory vs. Dortmund

Arsenal are now in the box seat to qualify from Group F in the Champions League after a remarkable 1-0 victory away vs. Borussia Dortmund.

The result is even more staggering considering that, before the game, Dortmund had never lost at home to an English team in European competition. They also won every single Champions League home game (six) en route to the final last season.

After defeat to Jurgen Klopp's men in the previous round of Champions League fixtures, things looked bleak for the Gunners in their pursuit to get out of a horrendously tricky group.

With a home tie still to come against a Marseille side who have yet to register a point, qualification now looks more possible than ever before.

Here, Bleacher Report takes a look at the significance of Arsenal's victory, and what we have learned about the Gunners ahead of Sunday's clash with Manchester United.

Agree? Disagree? Get involved with the discussion below.

Arsenal's Centre-Halves Are Up There with the Best

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Consistency is widely regarded as one of the keys to success. And, for Arsenal, their two central defenders have formed a partnership that has become one of the most feared in Europe.

Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny were at the heart of Arsenal's stunning win in Germany on Tuesday night. They dealt with everything Dortmund's star-studded attack had to throw at them—and came away with another clean sheet.

Koscielny in particular was stunning in dealing with the threat of Robert Lewandowski. And Mertesacker has become a towering supremo in terms of dealing with everything attacks can throw at the Gunners.

With Manchester United coming up on Sunday, that impressive form will need to continue.

Aaron Ramsey Is a Midfielder to Be Feared

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You just can't keep Aaron Ramsey out of the headlines. Not content with a stunning start to the season at domestic level, he popped up with the crucial goal in Europe, too.

That goal could prove vital in the race for qualification—it could even be the goal that could knock Dortmund out of the competition.

His performance was also excellent. He was tidy with the ball at his feet and really helped the midfield to tick going forward. His work-rate is absolutely phenomenal, and he looks like a completely different Aaron Ramsey to the one who struggled to hold down a place in the side last season.

On this form, Aaron Ramsey is one player Arsenal cannot do without.

The Away Kings Strike Again

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Eight months and 15 games now stand between Arsenal and their last defeat away from home—in any competition.

Whilst that is a remarkable statistic in its own right, you can add even more gloss to it: 14 of those 15 games have resulted in victories.

Playing away from home is a task that this Arsenal side thrive under. Perhaps it is the fact that their five-man midfield can soak up pressure like never before. Perhaps it is down to the role of men such as Mathieu Flamini and Mikel Arteta—who hold the midfield together like glue.

Or perhaps, Arsenal are simply one of Europe's hottest properties.

If that unbeaten run away from home stretches to 16 on Sunday afternoon, then Arsenal will continue to look good on all fronts—not just the Champions League.

Who would have predicted that back in July?

Qualification Is Almost in the Bag

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Arsenal could be safely qualified from Group F at the end of the next round of Champions League fixtures. Who would have thought that when the draw was made earlier in the season?

The most bizarre thing about it all is that Borussia Dortmund could now be the side to miss the cut in terms of reaching the knockout stages.

Victory over Marseille at home for Arsenal, coupled with Napoli doing the double over the German outfit, would see both the Gunners and the Italians progress with a game to spare. Even a draw between Napoli and Dortmund is now enough to see Arsenal through—as long as they beat Marseille.

Top spot is crucial in the Champions League group stages. Arsenal finished second to Schalke last season—and received the eventual winners Bayern Munich in the first knockout round.

Finishing top would see a much easier route to the later stages for the Gunners.

Arsenal Are Learning to Win Tough

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Let's put the victory against Dortmund into some perspective.

It was the first time the German outfit had lost to an English side in European competition. As earlier mentioned, their record in the Champions League at home last year read played six, won six.

This was no guaranteed victory by any stretch of the imagination. Arsenal had to do it tough, and play with determination and steel to get the result.

That is a trait you cannot apply to a Gunners side over the last few seasons. The narrow North London derby victory earlier in the season also adds weight to the point—as does the victory over Liverpool last weekend.

It is yet another suggestion that Arsenal are coming of age and could finally be about to break their trophy drought.