'People are fearful' - the reasons 'unstoppable force' Arsenal are the side to defeat.

The evidence is undeniable why Arsenal stand as countless pundits' preferred choice to win the Premier League in the current campaign.

Look at their results against Newcastle and Crystal Palace in contrast with those identical matches during the prior term.

The Gunners have overcome all of them in the current season, but surrendered 10 points across those games as they faded in the title race previously.

Impenetrable Rearguard

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

They stand first for shutouts (6), shots let in (3), opposition efforts (72), dangerous chances allowed (19) and expected goals against (5.3).

The center-back duo of Gabriel and William Saliba is possibly the finest in the league, with Arsenal recording a clean sheet in six of their first nine games.

Set-Piece Expertise

Their threat from set-pieces is widely recognized, but rival sides still struggle to neutralize 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 resulting from these situations.

"Arsenal can do a bit of everything now. The whole team has a fear factor. People are just wary of them and it is great to see."

Title Claims

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

While they maintain victories, their historic competitors face difficulties. 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 scrutiny was on head coach Mikel Arteta at the beginning, having allocated around £250m on eight summer signings in search of that elusive first title since 2004.

But the spending has so far yielded results in impressive fashion, with his side among the highest scorers in the league and possessing the strongest defense, despite multiple injuries.

• Shutouts in three consecutive 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 characterized Arteta's men as a "powerhouse, looking challenging to stop" with the whole club now functioning with belief and determination.