How Arsenal fared in the same fixtures last season paints a scary picture for the Premier League

Arsenal currently find themselves top of the Premier League after nine games, the same position they were in at this point of last season, but they actually find themselves far better off in terms of points.

The Gunners have taken 24 points from the nine opponents they've faced so far and that gives them a seven-point advantage on what they managed against the same teams last season.

Having already enjoyed such a huge increase on their results compared to how they fared against the same teams in their title-winning season, Arsenal's start to the campaign is really painting a scary picture for the rest of the Premier League.

Arsenal travelled to face Aston Villa in their second game of the season and came away from the West Midlands with a 1-0 victory, courtesy of Bukayo Saka's finish from close range.

That result saw them put last campaign's visit to Villa Park behind them as they fell to a 2-1 defeat from Emiliano Buendía's stoppage time winner.

The Gunners' sole slip-up this season came away to Brighton in September when they were thrashed 3-0 at the Amex.

It was a huge difference to their 1-0 win on the South Coast last term, and one that showed Arteta's side aren't completely unbeatable.

Arsenal replicated last season's win over Chelsea with another 2-1 victory early on in the campaign, coming from behind to defeat their London rivals.

Arteta's side opened the campaign facing newly promoted Coventry City and ran away as convincing 3-0 winners to get their title defence off to the perfect start.

As last season's Championship winners, the Sky Blues represent West Ham, who finished 18th to be relegated to the second division. The Hammers fell 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium.

As was the case with the Chelsea result, the Gunners managed a similar win over Everton as they ran out 2-0 victors both this season and last.

Arsenal were made to work for a win over Leeds this season as they came from behind to win 2-1 at the Emirates, courtesy of Bruno Guimarães' winner.

That was very different to how they won last year as the Gunners thrashed them 5-0 in the early stages of last term.

Arguably the biggest change in result was the Gunners' most recent Premier League test as they came away from Anfield with a 1-0 victory, ending a 14-year wait for three points in the red half of Merseyside.

Last season saw Arsenal fall by the same scoreline as Dominik Szoboszlai fired in the decisive goal with a stunning free kick.

Arteta's side really struggled at Forest last season, playing out a 0-0 draw in the midst of a poor run of form. However, they fought hard to take three points this time round with Noni Madueke's late winner sealing a 1-0 victory.

Another team who took a point off Arsenal last season, Sunderland were on the losing side at the Stadium of Light this year as David Raya's sensational penalty save set Guimarães and Bukayo Saka up to seal a crucial win.

The Gunners were made to come from behind to leave 2-1 a year ago, but were stunned by a late equaliser that meant the points were shared.

Arsenal's seven-point increase on last season's results is a huge statement of their intent. The Gunners were the favourites to retain their title this campaign, but it was never going to be easy with several clubs looking to make noise at the start of their respective new eras.

However, Arteta has overseen crucial results so far, with some of those being in matches where his side failed to get over the line last campaign.

The North Londoners are showing that they can still grind out results and have already managed to do that in clashes in which they previously failed to do so. The Premier League must be scared. Mikel Arteta and the Arsenal are coming for back-to-back titles.