'People are fearful' - the reasons 'powerhouse' Arsenal have become the team to beat.

The proof is undeniable why Arsenal have become numerous fans' preferred choice to win the Premier League in the current campaign.

Consider their results against Fulham and Crystal Palace versus those same matches during the prior term.

The Gunners have beaten all of them in the current season, but dropped 10 points across those games as they faded in the title race in the prior campaign.

Defensive Dominance

Arsenal's backline resilience is a crucial element why they are looking well positioned to finally fulfil their title goal.

They rank top for unbreached games (6), goals allowed (3), shots faced (72), dangerous chances allowed (19) and expected goals against (5.3).

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

Set-Piece Mastery

Their effectiveness from free kicks is highly documented, but rival sides still find it difficult to neutralize the Gunners from these opportunities.

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

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

Championship Pedigree

What is especially notable about Arsenal's start to the campaign is they have also faced Manchester United, Liverpool and Newcastle United away from home and Manchester City on home turf - and are still leading by four at the top.

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

The scrutiny was on head coach Mikel Arteta at the start, having spent around £250m on eight summer acquisitions in quest of that coveted first title since 2004.

But the spending has so far yielded results in remarkable manner, with his side one of the most prolific attacks in the league and boasting the tightest defense, despite numerous injuries.

• Shutouts in three straight Premier League games
• Nearly 6.5 hours without letting in a goal
• Only a handful of concessions in 12 games across every tournament

Former players and experts have described Arteta's men as a "juggernaut, looking hard to stop" with the whole club now functioning with confidence and purpose.