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There's little doubt why Arsenal stand as numerous fans' preferred choice to claim the Premier League this season.

Consider their results against Newcastle and Crystal Palace versus those same matches in the previous campaign.

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

Impenetrable Rearguard

Arsenal's defensive strength is a primary factor why they are seeming ready to ultimately achieve their title target.

They stand first for clean sheets (6), shots let in (3), attempts against (72), shots on target faced (19) and expected goals against (5.3).

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

Set-Piece Proficiency

Their effectiveness from free kicks is highly documented, but rival sides still don't know how to contain 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 coming 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 wonderful 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 away from home and Manchester City at home - and are still leading by four at the top.

While they keep winning, their traditional rivals are struggling. This marks the first time 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 manager Mikel Arteta at the beginning, having spent around £250m on eight summer acquisitions in quest of that elusive first title since 2004.

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

• Unbreached games in three consecutive Premier League games
• Nearly 6.5 hours without letting in a goal
• Only a handful of concessions in 12 games across various contests

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