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There's little doubt why Arsenal have become countless pundits' preferred choice to win the Premier League in the current campaign.

Consider their results against Fulham and Crystal Palace compared to those equivalent matches during the prior term.

The Gunners have beaten all of them in the current season, but lost 10 points across those games as they fell away in the title race in the prior campaign.

Defensive Prowess

Arsenal's backline resilience is a crucial element why they are appearing strong to ultimately achieve their title target.

They rank top for shutouts (6), shots let in (3), opposition efforts (72), shots on target faced (19) and expected goals against (5.3).

The center-back duo of Gabriel and William Saliba is possibly the finest in the league, with Arsenal recording a clean sheet in six of their first nine games.

Set-Piece Mastery

Their threat from set-pieces is highly documented, but rival sides still don't know how to neutralize the Gunners from these opportunities.

They have scored 11 times from set-pieces in the league, two more than any other side, with 69% of their goals originating from these situations.

"Arsenal can excel in various aspects now. The whole team has a fear factor. People are just afraid of them and it is wonderful to see."

Championship Credentials

What is even more remarkable about Arsenal's start to the campaign is they have also encountered Manchester United, Liverpool and Newcastle United away from home and Manchester City at home - and are still four points clear at the top.

While they maintain victories, their historic competitors aren't faring so well. 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 scrutiny was on head coach Mikel Arteta at the beginning, having allocated around £250m on eight summer signings in quest of that elusive first title since 2004.

But the business has so far paid off in remarkable manner, with his side second top scorers in the league and having the tightest defense, despite multiple injuries.

• Shutouts in three straight Premier League games
• 385 minutes without letting in a goal
• Only a handful of concessions in 12 games across every tournament

Former players and experts have described Arteta's men as a "powerhouse, looking challenging to stop" with the whole club now functioning with conviction and determination.