'People are afraid' - why 'unstoppable force' Arsenal are the squad everyone fears.

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

Consider their performances against Newcastle and Crystal Palace compared to those same matches last season.

The Gunners have defeated all of them in the current season, but lost 10 points across those games as they fell away in the title race previously.

Defensive Prowess

Arsenal's defensive strength is a crucial element why they are seeming ready to finally fulfil their title goal.

They lead the league for clean sheets (6), shots let in (3), attempts against (72), dangerous chances allowed (19) and expected goals against (5.3).

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

Set-Piece Mastery

Their danger from dead balls is highly documented, but opposition teams still struggle to neutralize the Gunners from these chances.

They have scored 11 times from set-pieces in the league, a couple extra than any other side, with 69% of their goals resulting from these situations.

"Arsenal can perform multiple roles now. The whole team has a daunting aura. People are just fearful of them and it is great to see."

Championship Credentials

What is especially remarkable about Arsenal's commencement to the campaign is they have also faced Manchester United, Liverpool and Newcastle United on the road and Manchester City at home - and are still ahead by four points at the top.

While they keep winning, their traditional rivals are struggling. This marks the first time at this juncture of the season since 1992 that none of Manchester City and United, Liverpool or Chelsea are in the Premier League top four.

The pressure was on manager Mikel Arteta at the start, having invested around £250m on eight summer additions in pursuit of that elusive first title since 2004.

But the business has so far yielded results in impressive fashion, with his side one of the most prolific attacks in the league and possessing the strongest defense, despite numerous injuries.

• Clean sheets in three straight Premier League games
• 385 minutes without letting in a goal
• Only a trio of goals in 12 games across all competitions

Former players and analysts have characterized Arteta's men as a "juggernaut, looking challenging to stop" with the whole club now functioning with belief and purpose.