ARSENAL are developing a handy knack of answering adversity this season, and it’s one that sends them into this Sunday’s match at Manchester United boasting five wins out of five and sitting top of the Premier League table.

Against Aston Villa on Wednesday night the Gunners saw their lead wiped out for just 151 seconds before Gabriel Martinelli restored their advantage to seal a 2-1 victory at the Emirates Stadium.

It’s the third time this campaign that the north Londoners have needed such resolve. They came from a goal down to beat Fulham 2-1, and in their 4-2 win over Leicester City they twice responded to conceding by going up the other end of the pitch and finding the back of the net.

That winning habit gives Gooners every confidence that their team can get a result at Old Trafford. And midweek match-winner Martinelli hopes to see it a lot more this season and beyond.

“That’s the mentality we need to have the whole season, and also next season and in the future,” said the Brazilian forward.

“We need to do this and keep winning the games. It was a tough game [against Aston Villa]. But I think we deserved the win and we played well. The most important thing is the three points – and we got them.

“I’m feeling great [but it’s] not just me, I think the whole team, the staff, the fans – everyone is happy. We are trying to win every single game. [We go] game by game and that’s the mentality we need to have.”

But it’s only going to get tougher for Arsenal, with injuries already starting to mount up. They are set to face United without Thomas Partey, who is struggling with a thigh injury, while his replacement, Mohamed Elneny, is preparing for a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a hamstring injury.

As the Tribune went to press last night (Thursday), the Gunners were working hard to remedy that issue. They were locked in a battle with Aston Villa as they tried to negotiate a deal to sign their highly-rated midfielder Douglas Luiz – the player who had scored against them directly from a corner the night before.

Arsenal reportedly had two offers turned down, the second thought to be in the region of £23m. They were expected to go in with a third offer but Villa were adamant they weren’t about to sell Luiz, who has entered the final 12 months of his contract.

Meanwhile, heading for the Emirates exit were Ainsley Maitland-Niles, who was set to agree a loan move to Southampton, and Hector Bellerin, who was working on a switch to Barcelona on a free transfer.