🔗 Share this article 'People are afraid' - why 'juggernaut' Arsenal are the side to defeat. Gabriel Magalhaes marks Arsenal's win over Crystal Palace There's little doubt why Arsenal stand as numerous fans' favorites to win the Premier League in the current campaign. Examine their performances against Fulham and Crystal Palace compared to those equivalent matches last season. 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 last season. Defensive Prowess Arsenal's defensive strength is a crucial element why they are appearing strong to ultimately achieve their title target. They stand first for unbreached games (6), goals allowed (3), attempts against (72), dangerous chances allowed (19) and xGA (5.3). The defensive partnership of Gabriel and William Saliba is arguably the strongest in the league, with Arsenal recording a clean sheet in six of their first nine games. Set-Piece Expertise Their threat from set-pieces is highly documented, but competing clubs still don't know how to stop the Gunners from these opportunities. They have notched 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 excel in various aspects now. The whole team has a fear factor. People are just wary of them and it is great to see." Title Credentials What is especially 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 in their own stadium - and are still four points clear at the top. While they maintain victories, their long-standing opponents are struggling. This marks the premier instance 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 pressure was on head coach Mikel Arteta at the start, having invested around £250m on eight summer acquisitions in quest of that coveted first title since 2004. But the investment has so far yielded results in impressive fashion, with his side second top scorers in the league and possessing the tightest defense, despite several injuries. Clean sheets in three straight Premier League games Nearly 6.5 hours without letting in a goal Only a handful of concessions in 12 games across all competitions Former players and experts have labeled Arteta's men as a "juggernaut, looking challenging to stop" with the whole club now functioning with confidence and purpose.