🔗 Share this article 'People are intimidated' - the reasons 'unstoppable force' Arsenal are the squad everyone fears. Gabriel Magalhaes celebrates Arsenal's triumph over Crystal Palace There's no doubt why Arsenal are now many people's top picks to win the Premier League during this term. Examine their outcomes against Newcastle and Crystal Palace versus those equivalent matches last season. The Gunners have beaten all of them during this campaign, but surrendered 10 points across those games as they fell away in the title race last season. Defensive Prowess Arsenal's backline resilience is a crucial element why they are seeming ready to finally fulfil their title target. They rank top for unbreached games (6), shots let in (3), opposition efforts (72), shots on target faced (19) and anticipated concessions (5.3). The center-back duo of Gabriel and William Saliba is arguably the finest in the league, with Arsenal maintaining a clean sheet in six of their first nine games. Dead-Ball Superiority Their threat from set-pieces is well known, but rival sides still don't know how to contain the Gunners from these situations. They have registered 11 times from set-pieces in the league, several additional than any other side, with 69% of their goals coming from these situations. "Arsenal can do a bit of everything now. The whole team has a daunting aura. People are just afraid of them and it is wonderful to see." Title Potential What is especially impressive about Arsenal's start to the campaign is they have also encountered 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 continue triumphing, their historic competitors are struggling. This marks the first time 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 expectations was on boss Mikel Arteta at the outset, having invested around £250m on eight summer additions in pursuit of that coveted first title since 2004. But the spending has so far proven successful in remarkable manner, with his side among the highest scorers in the league and having the strongest defense, despite multiple injuries. Shutouts in three straight Premier League games 385 minutes without letting in a goal Only a trio of goals in 12 games across all competitions Former players and pundits have described Arteta's men as a "powerhouse, looking challenging to stop" with the whole club now performing with conviction and resolve.