🔗 Share this article

There's no doubt why Arsenal have become many people's preferred choice to secure the Premier League during this term.

Look at their performances against West Ham and Crystal Palace in contrast with those identical matches in the previous campaign.

The Gunners have overcome all of them during this campaign, but surrendered 10 points across those games as they faded in the title race last season.

Impenetrable Backline

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

They lead the league for shutouts (6), goals allowed (3), shots faced (72), quality opportunities against (19) and xGA (5.3).

The defensive partnership of Gabriel and William Saliba is possibly the finest in the league, with Arsenal keeping a clean sheet in six of their first nine games.

Dead-Ball Dominance

Their effectiveness from free kicks is well known, but opposition teams still find it difficult to stop the Gunners from these opportunities.

They have scored 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 do a bit of everything now. The whole team has a fear factor. People are just fearful of them and it is wonderful to see."

Championship Credentials

What is even more remarkable about Arsenal's commencement to the campaign is they have also faced Manchester United, Liverpool and Newcastle United on the road and Manchester City in their own stadium - and are still ahead by four points at the top.

While they keep winning, their historic competitors aren't faring so well. This marks the initial occasion at this point 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 manager Mikel Arteta at the beginning, having spent around £250m on eight summer acquisitions in quest of that coveted first title since 2004.

But the spending has so far yielded results in remarkable manner, with his side one of the most prolific attacks in the league and possessing the most resilient defense, despite multiple 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 all competitions

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