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It's clear why Arsenal have become numerous fans' favorites to secure the Premier League this season.

Look at their performances against Fulham and Crystal Palace compared to those identical matches in the previous campaign.

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 in the prior campaign.

Defensive Dominance

Arsenal's defensive strength is a primary factor why they are looking well positioned to at last realize their title goal.

They lead the league for clean sheets (6), shots let in (3), opposition efforts (72), shots on target faced (19) and xGA (5.3).

The central defensive pairing of Gabriel and William Saliba is potentially the finest in the league, with Arsenal recording a clean sheet in six of their first nine games.

Set-Piece Proficiency

Their threat from set-pieces is well known, but rival sides still don't know how to stop 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 resulting from these situations.

"Arsenal can excel in various aspects now. The whole team has a daunting aura. People are just wary of them and it is excellent to see."

Championship Credentials

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

While they continue triumphing, their long-standing opponents aren't faring so well. 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 expectations was on boss Mikel Arteta at the beginning, having spent around £250m on eight summer signings in pursuit of that coveted first title since 2004.

But the investment has so far proven successful in remarkable manner, with his side one of the most prolific attacks in the league and having the strongest defense, despite multiple injuries.

• Clean sheets in three straight Premier League games
• Over six hours without letting in a goal
• Only three goals in 12 games across all competitions

Former players and experts have labeled Arteta's men as a "powerhouse, looking challenging to stop" with the whole club now performing with conviction and determination.