🔗 Share this article 'People are afraid' - why 'juggernaut' Arsenal are the side to defeat. Gabriel Magalhaes rejoices Arsenal's victory over Crystal Palace There's little doubt why Arsenal stand as countless pundits' top picks to claim the Premier League during this term. Consider their results against Fulham and Crystal Palace compared to those same matches last season. 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 previously. Defensive Dominance Arsenal's backline resilience is a primary factor why they are seeming ready to at last realize their title ambition. They rank top for clean sheets (6), goals allowed (3), opposition efforts (72), dangerous chances allowed (19) and xGA (5.3). The defensive partnership of Gabriel and William Saliba is potentially the finest in the league, with Arsenal recording a clean sheet in six of their first nine games. Set-Piece Proficiency Their threat from set-pieces is widely recognized, but opposition teams still find it difficult to contain the Gunners from these situations. 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 excel in various aspects now. The whole team has a daunting aura. People are just wary of them and it is wonderful to see." Championship Claims What is even more remarkable about Arsenal's commencement to the campaign is they have also encountered Manchester United, Liverpool and Newcastle United on the road and Manchester City at home - and are still leading by four at the top. While they maintain victories, their traditional rivals face difficulties. This marks the initial occasion 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 boss Mikel Arteta at the beginning, having invested around £250m on eight summer acquisitions in search of that elusive first title since 2004. But the business has so far proven successful in style, with his side second top scorers in the league and having the most resilient defense, despite several injuries. Clean sheets in three consecutive Premier League games 385 minutes without allowing a goal Only a trio of goals in 12 games across various contests Former players and analysts have described Arteta's men as a "unstoppable force, looking hard to stop" with the whole club now functioning with belief and determination.