'People are afraid' - the reasons 'juggernaut' Arsenal have become the squad everyone fears.

There's no doubt why Arsenal have become many people's favorites to secure the Premier League this season.

Consider their results against West Ham and Crystal Palace compared to those equivalent matches in the previous campaign.

The Gunners have defeated all of them during this campaign, but dropped 10 points across those games as they dropped off in the title race previously.

Impenetrable Backline

Arsenal's defensive solidity is a primary factor why they are seeming ready to finally fulfil their title target.

They rank top for shutouts (6), goals allowed (3), attempts against (72), shots on target faced (19) and expected goals against (5.3).

The center-back duo of Gabriel and William Saliba is arguably the strongest 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 well known, but rival sides still struggle to contain the Gunners from these chances.

They have scored 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 do a bit of everything now. The whole team has a daunting aura. People are just wary of them and it is excellent to see."

Championship Claims

What is particularly notable about Arsenal's beginning to the campaign is they have also faced 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 keep winning, their historic competitors face difficulties. This marks the initial occasion 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 pressure was on head coach Mikel Arteta at the beginning, having allocated around £250m on eight summer signings in search of that long-awaited first title since 2004.

But the investment has so far yielded results in remarkable manner, with his side second top scorers in the league and boasting the strongest defense, despite numerous injuries.

• Clean sheets in three consecutive Premier League games
• Over six hours without conceding a goal
• Only a handful of concessions in 12 games across all competitions

Former players and pundits have characterized Arteta's men as a "powerhouse, looking difficult to stop" with the whole club now operating with conviction and resolve.