'People are afraid' - why 'powerhouse' Arsenal are the team to beat.

The proof is undeniable why Arsenal stand as many people's preferred choice to win the Premier League during this term.

Consider their performances against Fulham and Crystal Palace versus those identical matches last season.

The Gunners have overcome all of them in the current season, but dropped 10 points across those games as they dropped off in the title race last season.

Impenetrable Backline

Arsenal's backline resilience is a key reason why they are looking well positioned to ultimately achieve 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 center-back duo of Gabriel and William Saliba is potentially the strongest in the league, with Arsenal keeping a clean sheet in six of their first nine games.

Set-Piece Proficiency

Their effectiveness from free kicks is widely recognized, but opposition teams still struggle to stop the Gunners from these opportunities.

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

"Arsenal can perform multiple roles now. The whole team has a fear factor. People are just afraid of them and it is wonderful 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 at home - and are still four points clear at the top.

While they maintain victories, their long-standing opponents 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 pressure was on manager Mikel Arteta at the start, having allocated around £250m on eight summer signings in pursuit of that elusive first title since 2004.

But the business has so far paid off in impressive fashion, with his side among the highest scorers in the league and having the tightest defense, despite several injuries.

• Unbreached games in each of their last three Premier League games
• 385 minutes without conceding a goal
• Only a trio of goals in 12 games across all competitions

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