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It's obvious why Arsenal are now countless pundits' favorites to win the Premier League in the current campaign.

Examine their results against West Ham and Crystal Palace versus those equivalent matches in the previous campaign.

The Gunners have overcome 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 backline resilience is a key reason why they are appearing strong to ultimately achieve their title ambition.

They lead the league for unbreached games (6), goals allowed (3), opposition efforts (72), dangerous chances allowed (19) and xGA (5.3).

The center-back duo of Gabriel and William Saliba is arguably the finest in the league, with Arsenal maintaining a clean sheet in six of their first nine games.

Dead-Ball Dominance

Their danger from dead balls is widely recognized, but opposition teams still find it difficult to neutralize the Gunners from these opportunities.

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 wary of them and it is excellent to see."

Championship Claims

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

While they continue triumphing, their historic competitors aren't faring so well. This marks the first time 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 pressure was on manager Mikel Arteta at the outset, having allocated around £250m on eight summer acquisitions in quest of that coveted first title since 2004.

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

• Clean sheets in each of their last three Premier League games
• Nearly 6.5 hours without allowing a goal
• Only a trio of goals in 12 games across every tournament

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