馃敆 Share this article 'People are fearful' - the reasons 'powerhouse' Arsenal have become the team to beat. Gabriel Magalhaes marks Arsenal's victory over Crystal Palace The proof is unmistakable why Arsenal are now numerous fans' favorites to secure the Premier League in the current campaign. Look at their outcomes against Fulham and Crystal Palace compared to those same matches during the prior term. The Gunners have defeated all of them during this campaign, but lost 10 points across those games as they faded in the title race last season. Impenetrable Rearguard Arsenal's backline resilience is a crucial element why they are seeming ready to finally fulfil their title goal. They rank top for shutouts (6), goals conceded (3), shots faced (72), shots on target faced (19) and xGA (5.3). The defensive partnership of Gabriel and William Saliba is possibly the strongest in the league, with Arsenal keeping a clean sheet in six of their first nine games. Dead-Ball Superiority Their effectiveness from free kicks is highly documented, but opposition teams still don't know how to stop the Gunners from these chances. They have notched 11 times from set-pieces in the league, two more than any other side, with 69% of their goals resulting from these situations. "Arsenal can perform multiple roles now. The whole team has a fear factor. People are just wary of them and it is excellent to see." Championship Pedigree What is even more notable about Arsenal's start 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 continue triumphing, their historic competitors face difficulties. This marks the initial occasion 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 spent around 拢250m on eight summer signings in pursuit of that long-awaited first title since 2004. But the spending has so far proven successful in remarkable manner, with his side among the highest scorers in the league and boasting the strongest defense, despite several injuries. Clean sheets in three consecutive Premier League games 385 minutes without letting in a goal Only a trio of goals in 12 games across every tournament Former players and analysts have described Arteta's men as a "juggernaut, looking difficult to stop" with the whole club now performing with confidence and resolve.