'People are afraid' - the reasons 'unstoppable force' Arsenal have become the squad everyone fears.

There's little doubt why Arsenal have become numerous fans' favorites to claim the Premier League during this term.

Examine their outcomes against West Ham and Crystal Palace versus those equivalent matches during the prior term.

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

Defensive Prowess

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

They stand first for shutouts (6), shots let in (3), opposition efforts (72), quality opportunities against (19) and xGA (5.3).

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

Dead-Ball Superiority

Their threat from set-pieces is well known, but competing clubs still struggle to contain the Gunners from these chances.

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

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

Title Claims

What is even more impressive about Arsenal's commencement to the campaign is they have also encountered Manchester United, Liverpool and Newcastle United at opposition grounds and Manchester City in their own stadium - and are still four points clear at the top.

While they keep winning, their long-standing opponents are struggling. 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 pressure was on boss Mikel Arteta at the beginning, having invested around £250m on eight summer additions in pursuit of that long-awaited first title since 2004.

But the investment has so far paid off in style, with his side one of the most prolific attacks in the league and boasting the most resilient defense, despite several injuries.

• Shutouts in each of their last three Premier League games
• Over six hours without letting in a goal
• Only a trio of goals in 12 games across various contests

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