🔗 Share this article 'People are fearful' - the reasons 'powerhouse' Arsenal are the team to beat. Gabriel Magalhaes rejoices Arsenal's win over Crystal Palace The proof is undeniable why Arsenal have become many people's top picks to secure the Premier League this season. Examine their outcomes against West Ham and Crystal Palace in contrast with those identical matches in the previous campaign. The Gunners have beaten all of them in the current season, but surrendered 10 points across those games as they dropped off in the title race last season. Defensive Strength Arsenal's defensive solidity is a key reason why they are appearing strong to finally fulfil their title target. They stand first for clean sheets (6), goals allowed (3), shots faced (72), quality opportunities against (19) and expected goals against (5.3). The defensive partnership 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. Set-Piece Proficiency Their effectiveness from free kicks is widely recognized, but opposition teams still don't know how to stop the Gunners from these situations. They have notched 11 times from set-pieces in the league, two more 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 fearful of them and it is excellent to see." Title Claims What is even more notable about Arsenal's start to the campaign is they have also played Manchester United, Liverpool and Newcastle United away from home and Manchester City on home turf - and are still four points clear at the top. While they continue triumphing, their historic competitors 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 allocated around £250m on eight summer acquisitions in pursuit of that coveted first title since 2004. But the spending has so far yielded results in style, with his side among the highest scorers in the league and boasting the tightest defense, despite numerous injuries. Shutouts in three straight Premier League games 385 minutes without allowing a goal Only three goals in 12 games across all competitions Former players and pundits have characterized Arteta's men as a "powerhouse, looking hard to stop" with the whole club now performing with confidence and purpose.