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There's no doubt why Arsenal have become countless pundits' top picks to win the Premier League this season.

Consider their performances against Fulham and Crystal Palace in contrast with those same 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 fell away in the title race last season.

Impenetrable Defense

Arsenal's defensive solidity is a crucial element why they are looking well positioned to at last realize their title target.

They lead the league for unbreached games (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 potentially the finest in the league, with Arsenal maintaining a clean sheet in six of their first nine games.

Dead-Ball Excellence

Their threat from set-pieces is highly documented, but opposition teams still find it difficult to neutralize the Gunners from these situations.

They have registered 11 times from set-pieces in the league, two more 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 daunting aura. People are just afraid of them and it is great to see."

Championship Pedigree

What is especially notable about Arsenal's start to the campaign is they have also faced Manchester United, Liverpool and Newcastle United at opposition grounds and Manchester City at home - and are still leading by four at the top.

While they continue triumphing, their long-standing opponents are struggling. This marks the initial occasion at this point 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 manager Mikel Arteta at the start, having invested around £250m on eight summer additions in quest of that long-awaited 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 possessing the most resilient defense, despite several injuries.

• Shutouts in each of their last three Premier League games
• 385 minutes without letting in a goal
• Only three goals in 12 games across every tournament

Former players and pundits have labeled Arteta's men as a "unstoppable force, looking hard to stop" with the whole club now functioning with conviction and resolve.