🔗 Share this article

The evidence is undeniable why Arsenal have become many people's favorites to win the Premier League this season.

Consider their outcomes against Fulham and Crystal Palace versus those same matches in the previous campaign.

The Gunners have overcome all of them this time around, but surrendered 10 points across those games as they fell away in the title race in the prior campaign.

Impenetrable Rearguard

Arsenal's defensive solidity is a crucial element why they are looking well positioned to at last realize their title ambition.

They lead the league for unbreached games (6), shots let in (3), attempts against (72), dangerous chances allowed (19) and anticipated concessions (5.3).

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

Set-Piece Expertise

Their danger from dead balls is highly documented, but opposition teams still find it difficult to stop the Gunners from these opportunities.

They have notched 11 times from set-pieces in the league, two more than any other side, with 69% of their goals coming 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 great to see."

Championship Claims

What is especially remarkable about Arsenal's commencement 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 four points clear at the top.

While they maintain victories, their long-standing opponents aren't faring so well. This marks the premier instance 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 expectations was on head coach Mikel Arteta at the outset, having invested around £250m on eight summer signings in search of that coveted first title since 2004.

But the business has so far yielded results in style, with his side among the highest scorers in the league and having the most resilient defense, despite several injuries.

• Clean sheets in each of their last three Premier League games
• 385 minutes without letting in a goal
• Only a handful of concessions in 12 games across every tournament

Former players and pundits have labeled Arteta's men as a "unstoppable force, looking challenging to stop" with the whole club now operating with confidence and purpose.