'People are afraid' - the reasons 'unstoppable force' Arsenal have become the side to defeat.

The proof is undeniable why Arsenal are now many people's top picks to secure the Premier League in the current campaign.

Consider their outcomes against Newcastle and Crystal Palace compared to those same matches last season.

The Gunners have beaten all of them this time around, but lost 10 points across those games as they dropped off in the title race previously.

Impenetrable Rearguard

Arsenal's defensive strength is a crucial element why they are appearing strong to finally fulfil their title target.

They rank top for unbreached games (6), goals conceded (3), opposition efforts (72), shots on target faced (19) and xGA (5.3).

The central defensive pairing 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 danger from dead balls is widely recognized, but opposition teams still don't know how to stop the Gunners from these situations.

They have registered 11 times from set-pieces in the league, a couple extra 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 intimidation presence. People are just wary of them and it is wonderful to see."

Championship Claims

What is especially notable about Arsenal's beginning to the campaign is they have also played Manchester United, Liverpool and Newcastle United at opposition grounds and Manchester City in their own stadium - and are still four points clear at the top.

While they continue triumphing, their traditional rivals aren't faring so well. This marks the first time 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 beginning, having spent around £250m on eight summer acquisitions in search of that elusive first title since 2004.

But the investment has so far paid off in remarkable manner, with his side one of the most prolific attacks in the league and possessing the most resilient defense, despite several injuries.

• Shutouts in each of their last three Premier League games
• Nearly 6.5 hours without allowing a goal
• Only three goals in 12 games across various contests

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