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Examine the outcomes against Newcastle, West Ham, Fulham, and Crystal Palace in relation to their performances in the previous season.
This time, the Gunners have triumphed over all these teams, yet they have let slip 10 points during these matches, which contributed to their decline in the title chase last year.
They managed a draw against Fulham, another at home versus Palace, while they were defeated by Newcastle and lost at home to West Ham.
Consequently, the Gunners ended the season in second place for the third consecutive year, with a 10-point gap from the champions, Liverpool, illustrating the significance of these results on the overall standings.
What enhances the impressive start to Arsenal's current campaign is their matches against Manchester United, Liverpool, and Newcastle United away, as well as Manchester City at home, while still maintaining a four-point lead over Bournemouth at the top.
As Arsenal continues to secure victories, their historic rivals are struggling. Notably, this is the first time since 1992 that at this point in the season, neither Manchester City nor United, Liverpool, or Chelsea sit in the Premier League's top four.
"There are certain misunderstandings, particularly regarding Arsenal," former City defender Nedum Onouha shared with BBC Radio 5 Live. "They’re often labeled as set-piece FC, yet they rank among the clubs with the most shots in the Premier League and have the fewest goals conceded, alongside allowing the least chances and shots against.
"They're exceptional. They’re leading the league, and they rightfully deserve that position."
Manager Mikel Arteta faced significant expectations at the season's outset, having invested approximately £250 million in eight summer recruits in pursuit of their first title since 2004.
Thus far, the investment has reaped rewards, with his team being the second-highest scorers in the league and boasting the tightest defense, despite dealing with multiple injuries.
"Arsenal has developed versatile capabilities now. The entire team has become intimidating," stated former Gunners striker Theo Walcott on BBC Sport. "Opponents are clearly wary of them, and it's wonderful to witness.
"It’s becoming increasingly common for them to prevent goals. They may have endured a rough period previously with too many draws, but I doubt that will repeat this season. The belief within the club is palpable now."
Former Arsenal and England forward Ellen White characterized Arteta's squad as a "juggernaut, appearing hard to stop."
Statistics reflect their strength in both defense and attack.
Arsenal's defensive resilience is a pivotal factor in their promising position to finally achieve their title ambitions.
Arteta expressed that the victory over Palace meant more to him "than any other win this season," noting that with the losses from Liverpool, Chelsea, and Manchester City, Arsenal had "a significant opportunity creating from what unfolded over the weekend."
"We find ourselves in our current position [in the league], which is a testament to our remarkable consistency. However, it only emphasizes the importance of continuing to excel in the areas where we are performing well," he stated.
"There are aspects that need enhancement to provide us with better advantages."
In terms of defense, his team leads the league with the most clean sheets (6), the fewest goals conceded (3), the lowest number of shots faced (72), the least shots on target faced (19), and the best expected goals against (xGA 5.3).
They managed to limit Palace to a single shot on target, and that chance occurred when the ball deflected off Eddie Nketiah’s head, landing safely in the hands of goalkeeper David Raya.
The defensive duo of Gabriel and William Saliba is arguably the strongest in the league, with Arsenal achieving clean sheets in six out of their first nine matches—more than any other team this season.
There are minor concerns regarding Saliba's fitness after he was substituted at halftime, yet summer signing Cristhian Mosquera has stepped up, showcasing himself as an elite centre-back when called upon.
Arsenal has successfully maintained a clean sheet in their last three Premier League matches, constituting a streak of 385 minutes without conceding a goal, and they have allowed just three goals across all competitions this season in 12 games.
"The trend for Arsenal is that they can face any opponent and come away with results. The champions of the past rarely conceded many goals, and Arsenal is confident that when a chance arises, they will capitalize on it," remarked Walcott.
"This weekend presented disappointing results for teams anticipated to win.
"Arsenal's challenging phase this year has involved not performing at their best yet still securing results, which I attribute to Mikel [Arteta]. He is genuinely striving to maintain focus and accuracy throughout the match."
Masters of set-pieces
Their prowess in set-pieces is widely recognized, yet rival teams seem uncertain on how to effectively contain the Gunners during these situations.
They have netted vital goals from set-pieces in key matches against Manchester United, Newcastle, Fulham, and Atletico Madrid, with Gabriel scoring the opener against Atletico at a time when breakthroughs seemed unlikely.
Opposition managers have noted Arsenal’s capabilities with corners and free-kicks, and with Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice, they boast two of the league’s best set-piece takers.
In league play, they have scored 11 goals from set-pieces, surpassing any other team by two (Chelsea has 9), and 69% (11 out of 16) of their goals during the 2025-26 season have originated from such situations.
While Arsenal aims to increase their goals from open play, having the highest percentage of set-piece goals at this point in the season, coupled with being at the top of the league, is certainly a positive aspect.
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