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There's little doubt why Arsenal stand as countless pundits' top picks to claim the Premier League in the current campaign.

Examine their performances against Newcastle and Crystal Palace in contrast with those equivalent matches last season.

The Gunners have overcome all of them this time around, but dropped 10 points across those games as they fell away in the title race last season.

Defensive Dominance

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

They rank top for clean sheets (6), goals conceded (3), shots faced (72), shots on target faced (19) and xGA (5.3).

The defensive partnership of Gabriel and William Saliba is possibly the strongest in the league, with Arsenal recording a clean sheet in six of their first nine games.

Set-Piece Proficiency

Their effectiveness from free kicks is widely recognized, but competing clubs still don't know how to contain the Gunners from these situations.

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 daunting aura. People are just afraid of them and it is wonderful to see."

Title Potential

What is especially impressive about Arsenal's commencement to the campaign is they have also faced Manchester United, Liverpool and Newcastle United away from home and Manchester City on home turf - and are still four points clear at the top.

While they continue triumphing, their long-standing opponents face difficulties. 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 scrutiny was on manager Mikel Arteta at the outset, having allocated around £250m on eight summer acquisitions in search of that coveted first title since 2004.

But the investment has so far paid off in style, with his side among the highest scorers in the league and having the most resilient defense, despite several injuries.

• Unbreached games in three consecutive Premier League games
• Nearly 6.5 hours without letting in a goal
• Only three goals in 12 games across every tournament

Former players and analysts have labeled Arteta's men as a "unstoppable force, looking hard to stop" with the whole club now performing with confidence and determination.