🔗 Share this article 'People are intimidated' - why 'juggernaut' Arsenal have become the squad everyone fears. Gabriel Magalhaes marks Arsenal's win over Crystal Palace The proof is unmistakable why Arsenal have become many people's preferred choice to claim the Premier League during this term. Look at their results against Fulham and Crystal Palace in contrast with those equivalent matches during the prior term. The Gunners have overcome all of them this time around, but surrendered 10 points across those games as they dropped off in the title race last season. Defensive Strength Arsenal's backline resilience is a crucial element why they are seeming ready to ultimately achieve their title goal. They lead the league for unbreached games (6), shots let in (3), shots faced (72), quality opportunities against (19) and anticipated concessions (5.3). The central defensive pairing of Gabriel and William Saliba is arguably the strongest in the league, with Arsenal recording a clean sheet in six of their first nine games. Dead-Ball Excellence Their threat from set-pieces is well known, but opposition teams still find it difficult to stop the Gunners from these chances. They have notched 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 excel in various aspects now. The whole team has a daunting aura. People are just afraid of them and it is excellent to see." Championship Claims What is particularly remarkable about Arsenal's beginning to the campaign is they have also played Manchester United, Liverpool and Newcastle United on the road and Manchester City in their own stadium - and are still four points clear at the top. While they continue triumphing, their traditional rivals are struggling. 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 expectations was on manager Mikel Arteta at the beginning, having spent around £250m on eight summer signings in quest of that long-awaited first title since 2004. But the investment has so far proven successful in style, with his side one of the most prolific attacks in the league and possessing the tightest defense, despite multiple injuries. Clean sheets in three straight Premier League games 385 minutes without conceding a goal Only a handful of concessions in 12 games across various contests Former players and experts have labeled Arteta's men as a "powerhouse, looking hard to stop" with the whole club now functioning with belief and resolve.