'People are afraid' - the reasons 'powerhouse' Arsenal are the squad everyone fears.

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

Examine their performances against West Ham and Crystal Palace compared to those identical matches last season.

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

Defensive Prowess

Arsenal's defensive solidity is a primary factor why they are looking well positioned to finally fulfil their title target.

They rank top for shutouts (6), goals allowed (3), shots faced (72), shots on target faced (19) and xGA (5.3).

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

Dead-Ball Superiority

Their effectiveness from free kicks is highly documented, but rival sides still don't know how to contain the Gunners from these situations.

They have registered 11 times from set-pieces in the league, several additional 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 wary of them and it is excellent to see."

Championship Claims

What is even more notable about Arsenal's start to the campaign is they have also played Manchester United, Liverpool and Newcastle United away from home and Manchester City at home - and are still four points clear at the top.

While they keep winning, their traditional rivals face difficulties. This marks the initial occasion 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 invested around £250m on eight summer signings in quest of that long-awaited first title since 2004.

But the spending has so far proven successful in remarkable manner, with his side one of the most prolific attacks in the league and possessing the most resilient defense, despite multiple injuries.

• Shutouts in three straight Premier League games
• Over six hours without allowing a goal
• Only a trio of goals in 12 games across every tournament

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