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It's clear why Arsenal have become countless pundits' preferred choice to win the Premier League in the current campaign.

Examine their performances against West Ham and Crystal Palace compared to those same matches during the prior term.

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

Impenetrable Defense

Arsenal's defensive strength is a primary factor why they are seeming ready to at last realize their title ambition.

They lead the league for clean sheets (6), goals conceded (3), attempts against (72), dangerous chances allowed (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 keeping a clean sheet in six of their first nine games.

Dead-Ball Dominance

Their threat from set-pieces is highly documented, but rival sides still struggle to contain the Gunners from these opportunities.

They have registered 11 times from set-pieces in the league, several additional 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 afraid of them and it is wonderful to see."

Championship Pedigree

What is even more notable about Arsenal's start to the campaign is they have also played Manchester United, Liverpool and Newcastle United on the road and Manchester City on home turf - and are still ahead by four points at the top.

While they keep winning, their historic competitors aren't faring so well. This marks the premier instance 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 scrutiny was on head coach Mikel Arteta at the beginning, having spent around £250m on eight summer additions in quest of that coveted first title since 2004.

But the business has so far yielded results in remarkable manner, with his side among the highest scorers in the league and having the tightest defense, despite multiple injuries.

• Unbreached games in three consecutive Premier League games
• Over six hours without conceding a goal
• Only a handful of concessions in 12 games across various contests

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