'People are afraid' - why 'unstoppable force' Arsenal have become the side to defeat.

There's little doubt why Arsenal have become numerous fans' preferred choice to win the Premier League in the current campaign.

Consider their results against West Ham and Crystal Palace versus those equivalent matches during the prior term.

The Gunners have defeated all of them this time around, but lost 10 points across those games as they dropped off in the title race previously.

Defensive Prowess

Arsenal's defensive strength is a primary factor why they are seeming ready to at last realize their title target.

They rank top for clean sheets (6), shots let in (3), attempts against (72), quality opportunities against (19) and xGA (5.3).

The defensive partnership of Gabriel and William Saliba is possibly the best in the league, with Arsenal keeping a clean sheet in six of their first nine games.

Set-Piece Expertise

Their threat from set-pieces is well known, but rival sides still struggle to neutralize the Gunners from these opportunities.

They have scored 11 times from set-pieces in the league, two more than any other side, with 69% of their goals coming from these situations.

"Arsenal can do a bit of everything now. The whole team has a intimidation presence. People are just fearful of them and it is excellent to see."

Title Claims

What is even more notable about Arsenal's beginning to the campaign is they have also encountered Manchester United, Liverpool and Newcastle United on the road and Manchester City on home turf - and are still four points clear at the top.

While they maintain victories, their historic competitors face difficulties. This marks the first time at this point of the season since 1992 that none of Manchester City and United, Liverpool or Chelsea are in the Premier League top four.

The expectations was on head coach Mikel Arteta at the outset, having allocated around £250m on eight summer additions in pursuit of that long-awaited first title since 2004.

But the business has so far yielded results in impressive fashion, with his side second top scorers in the league and possessing the tightest defense, despite multiple injuries.

• Clean sheets in each of their last three Premier League games
• 385 minutes without letting in a goal
• Only three goals in 12 games across various contests

Former players and experts have characterized Arteta's men as a "powerhouse, looking challenging to stop" with the whole club now functioning with conviction and resolve.